Also, he asks: Is the 'Id sacrifice recommended on behalf of the deceased, just as it is for the living, even if they did not bequeath it? Or is it a form of worship specific to the living only, except for those among the deceased who bequeathed it?
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The questioner : Also, he asks: Is the 'Id sacrifice recommended on behalf of the deceased, just as it is for the living, even if they did not bequeath it? Or is it a form of worship specific to the living only, except for those among the deceased who bequeathed it?
The Shaykh : What we see is that the 'Id sacrifice is prescribed only for the living.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because this is what is reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); it is for the living only, unless the deceased bequeathed it, in which case it is performed on his behalf. This is because if the deceased bequeathed it, he bequeathed it from his wealth, and he has the right to dispose of his wealth as he wishes, provided it is not in disobedience to Allah. So it is carried out as he bequeathed. As for the living person, he sacrifices for himself, but there is no harm in his sacrificing and saying, "This is for my household," intending by them the living and the deceased.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The apparent meaning of the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), where he used to say, "This is for Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and for the Ummah of Muhammad," is that it includes both the living and the deceased. However, sacrificing specifically on behalf of a deceased person is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Three of the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) daughters died during his lifetime, and he did not sacrifice on their behalf. His wife Khadijah died, and she was among the women he loved most, yet he did not sacrifice on her behalf. His uncle Hamzah (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred, and he did not sacrifice on his behalf. If this had been among the prescribed matters, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would have prescribed it for his Ummah, either by his saying, his doing, or his approval. Since none of that occurred, it is known that it is not prescribed. Nevertheless, we do not say that it is forbidden, or that it is a religious innovation, or that it is not permissible, because it is most similar to charity, as some scholars have analogized the 'Id sacrifice on behalf of the deceased to charity on his behalf, and charity on behalf of the deceased has been established by the Sunnah. Yes.
The Shaykh : What we see is that the 'Id sacrifice is prescribed only for the living.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because this is what is reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); it is for the living only, unless the deceased bequeathed it, in which case it is performed on his behalf. This is because if the deceased bequeathed it, he bequeathed it from his wealth, and he has the right to dispose of his wealth as he wishes, provided it is not in disobedience to Allah. So it is carried out as he bequeathed. As for the living person, he sacrifices for himself, but there is no harm in his sacrificing and saying, "This is for my household," intending by them the living and the deceased.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The apparent meaning of the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), where he used to say, "This is for Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and for the Ummah of Muhammad," is that it includes both the living and the deceased. However, sacrificing specifically on behalf of a deceased person is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Three of the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) daughters died during his lifetime, and he did not sacrifice on their behalf. His wife Khadijah died, and she was among the women he loved most, yet he did not sacrifice on her behalf. His uncle Hamzah (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred, and he did not sacrifice on his behalf. If this had been among the prescribed matters, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would have prescribed it for his Ummah, either by his saying, his doing, or his approval. Since none of that occurred, it is known that it is not prescribed. Nevertheless, we do not say that it is forbidden, or that it is a religious innovation, or that it is not permissible, because it is most similar to charity, as some scholars have analogized the 'Id sacrifice on behalf of the deceased to charity on his behalf, and charity on behalf of the deceased has been established by the Sunnah. Yes.