The ruling on slaughtering a cow at a specific time to ward off harm

Question:
He says: In our village, there is a phenomenon among the elderly, which is slaughtering a cow every year. They call it *marqub* or *'uqub*. Usually, the reason for this practice is that their father suffered harm in his family or his wealth. They say, "We slaughter it as charity for Allah," and they mention the name of Allah over it when slaughtering for the father. I fear that the fathers used to slaughter it for the jinn, out of fear of them. What is the ruling on this practice?

Answer:
This practice is not permissible. This practice is not permissible, because of what the questioner mentioned regarding the origin, which is the fear that it is done with the intention of warding off harm from the person or his children, at a specific time. Allah and His Messenger have not prescribed this. Even if we say that the name of Allah, Glorified and Exalted, was mentioned over it, specifying it for a particular time...
This is a religious innovation (bid'ah), because it is not permissible to specify charity or slaughter with a description or condition unless there is a scriptural proof indicating that. For example, the slaughter for the sacrificial animal of the pilgrimage (hady) and the 'Id sacrifice (udhiyah) has proof that Allah specified it for the days of the festival. Likewise, the traditional sacrifices and the lawful slaughters have their specific times, especially as prescribed by the Lawgiver. So we follow what has been prescribed. As for us specifying a time for a class or a time for slaughter without any proof from the Shari'ah, this is considered innovation. And bid'ah is forbidden (haram), as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning it is rejected. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is assuming that it was slaughtered as charity and the name of Allah was mentioned over it, and there was no intention regarding the jinn or the shayatin. If we assume that, but if there is an intention to draw near to the shayatin or the jinn so that they do not harm, then this is shirk (associating partners with Allah) itself. In any case, this thing must be prevented and one must stay away from it. Charity has specific avenues, and praise be to Allah, and there is no need for us to commit this practice, even if it was passed down from the fathers and ancestors and customs. All customs and all habits must be referred to the Shari'ah and judged by the Shari'ah. What the Shari'ah has permitted is done, and what the Shari'ah has rejected cannot be done. There is no binding obligation on the fathers or the sons in this matter. Rather, this is an honor if we return to the Shari'ah; this is an honor for us in this world and the Hereafter. But if we remain with the customs of the fathers and ancestors that contradict the Shari'ah, then this is a sin and a great deficiency in the one who does this.