The Sacrifice of the Ankle
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 21437 )
Q 1: We are a group of families in one village, and we found that our fathers had vowed upon themselves and their descendants after them to slaughter seven sheep or fourteen sheep every year, and they call it the charity of (the ankle), and that is at the beginning of the lunar year, and they stipulated that it be on a Friday.
It is a charity with which they seek nearness to Allah and they mention the name of Allah over it; this is because they used to be afflicted in the past with some diseases, calamities, and trials that sometimes led to death, so they would slaughter a sheep for each one of us, whether poor or rich, believing that it would ward off these diseases and calamities from them. When they delayed these sacrifices from their time, some doubt would visit them that the cause of their being afflicted with illness was the delay of these sacrifices, even though some of them knew that diseases do not come except from Allah, and that no one removes harm except Allah, and that they do not protect them from the decree of Allah. But some doubt would arise in them, so they used to slaughter them every year. Some of them might be late for the Friday prayer, and others would attend, and they would invite the worshippers to come in order to eat the sacrifices. What is the ruling on this practice of theirs, and what is obligatory upon them? May Allah preserve you?
A 1: Slaughtering the sacrifices every year at a fixed time, believing that slaughtering them results in the warding off of affliction from the town, is a forbidden act, a religious innovation, and a defective belief, and it is a means to associating partners with Allah, even if the name of Allah is mentioned over it and even if it is called charity. And if it is slaughtered for other than Allah, such as the jinn and devils, in order to ward off their evil, then it is major shirk that takes one out of the religion. So it is obligatory to repent to Allah, abandon this custom, and rely upon Allah alone:[At-Tawbah 9:51] .
And whoever vows this slaughter, his vow is forbidden and a sin, and it is not permissible to fulfill it; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 2126Sahih (Darussalam) , and a bequest to do so is invalid and it is not permissible to execute it. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q 1: We are a group of families in one village, and we found that our fathers had vowed upon themselves and their descendants after them to slaughter seven sheep or fourteen sheep every year, and they call it the charity of (the ankle), and that is at the beginning of the lunar year, and they stipulated that it be on a Friday.
It is a charity with which they seek nearness to Allah and they mention the name of Allah over it; this is because they used to be afflicted in the past with some diseases, calamities, and trials that sometimes led to death, so they would slaughter a sheep for each one of us, whether poor or rich, believing that it would ward off these diseases and calamities from them. When they delayed these sacrifices from their time, some doubt would visit them that the cause of their being afflicted with illness was the delay of these sacrifices, even though some of them knew that diseases do not come except from Allah, and that no one removes harm except Allah, and that they do not protect them from the decree of Allah. But some doubt would arise in them, so they used to slaughter them every year. Some of them might be late for the Friday prayer, and others would attend, and they would invite the worshippers to come in order to eat the sacrifices. What is the ruling on this practice of theirs, and what is obligatory upon them? May Allah preserve you?
A 1: Slaughtering the sacrifices every year at a fixed time, believing that slaughtering them results in the warding off of affliction from the town, is a forbidden act, a religious innovation, and a defective belief, and it is a means to associating partners with Allah, even if the name of Allah is mentioned over it and even if it is called charity. And if it is slaughtered for other than Allah, such as the jinn and devils, in order to ward off their evil, then it is major shirk that takes one out of the religion. So it is obligatory to repent to Allah, abandon this custom, and rely upon Allah alone:
Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allah let the believers rely.
قُلْ لَنْ يُصِيبَنَا إِلا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلانَا وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَAnd whoever vows this slaughter, his vow is forbidden and a sin, and it is not permissible to fulfill it; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Allah, let him not disobey Him.
من نذر أن يطيع الله فليطعه، ومن نذر أن يعصي الله فلا يعصه
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.