Slaughter at the Threshold of a New Home
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Fatwa No. ( 9867 ):
Q: The Riyadh newspaper, in its issue No. 6411 dated 1/5/1406 AH, published an article under the title “Slaughter at the Threshold of a New Home,” a copy of which is attached. The writer in it questions the validity of this belief, as it is a custom followed by some people. Therefore, I would like to send you a copy of this news item for your review. Slaughter at the door threshold is another of the customs whose origins I have been unable to identify. However, it is common among people that slaughtering at the threshold of a new home, before entering it, is one of the most important means of warding off the evil eye, making the house blessed, and avoiding misfortunes and undesirable incidents. Since we believe that caution does not benefit one from divine decree, we do not know exactly the validity of this belief, but this point is appropriate to pause and consider.
A: If this custom is for the purpose of pleasing the jinn and avoiding misfortunes and unpleasant events, then it is a forbidden custom, indeed shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is the apparent meaning of performing the slaughter before moving into the house and specifically at the threshold. If, however, the intention of the slaughter is to honor the new neighbors, get to know them, thank Allah for the blessing of the new residence, and honor relatives and friends on this occasion by introducing them to the dwelling, then this is good, and its doer is to be praised for it. But this is to be done as a custom after the people of the house have moved in, not before, and the slaughter of the animal or animals is not to be done specifically at the door threshold or the entrance of the house. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: The Riyadh newspaper, in its issue No. 6411 dated 1/5/1406 AH, published an article under the title “Slaughter at the Threshold of a New Home,” a copy of which is attached. The writer in it questions the validity of this belief, as it is a custom followed by some people. Therefore, I would like to send you a copy of this news item for your review. Slaughter at the door threshold is another of the customs whose origins I have been unable to identify. However, it is common among people that slaughtering at the threshold of a new home, before entering it, is one of the most important means of warding off the evil eye, making the house blessed, and avoiding misfortunes and undesirable incidents. Since we believe that caution does not benefit one from divine decree, we do not know exactly the validity of this belief, but this point is appropriate to pause and consider.
A: If this custom is for the purpose of pleasing the jinn and avoiding misfortunes and unpleasant events, then it is a forbidden custom, indeed shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is the apparent meaning of performing the slaughter before moving into the house and specifically at the threshold. If, however, the intention of the slaughter is to honor the new neighbors, get to know them, thank Allah for the blessing of the new residence, and honor relatives and friends on this occasion by introducing them to the dwelling, then this is good, and its doer is to be praised for it. But this is to be done as a custom after the people of the house have moved in, not before, and the slaughter of the animal or animals is not to be done specifically at the door threshold or the entrance of the house. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.