My father has passed away and did not leave a bequest. He has minor children. Should I sacrifice for the minor children, or should I sacrifice for the father separately?
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The questioner : He says: My father has passed away and did not leave a bequest. He has minor children. Should I sacrifice for the minor children, or should I sacrifice for the father separately?
The Shaykh : First: It must be known that the 'Id sacrifice is not obligatory for the dead; the original ruling for the 'Id sacrifice is for the living. This is the principle. If the deceased did not bequeath it, it is better not to sacrifice on his behalf except as a follow-up to the living. A person sacrifices a sheep on behalf of himself and his household, intending it for both the living and the dead. The evidence that it is not from the Sunnah to sacrifice for the dead except by bequest is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had daughters who passed away, his uncle Hamzah ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib passed away, and his wives passed away—his wife Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) and Zaynab bint Khuzaymah passed away. Yet he did not sacrifice for any of them (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him). If it had been good, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have done it. He only sacrificed for himself and his household, meaning the living. However, we say: if a person sacrifices for himself and his household and intends it for the living and the dead, there is no harm in that, if Allah wills. As for bequests, they must be carried out exactly as they are.
The Shaykh : First: It must be known that the 'Id sacrifice is not obligatory for the dead; the original ruling for the 'Id sacrifice is for the living. This is the principle. If the deceased did not bequeath it, it is better not to sacrifice on his behalf except as a follow-up to the living. A person sacrifices a sheep on behalf of himself and his household, intending it for both the living and the dead. The evidence that it is not from the Sunnah to sacrifice for the dead except by bequest is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had daughters who passed away, his uncle Hamzah ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib passed away, and his wives passed away—his wife Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) and Zaynab bint Khuzaymah passed away. Yet he did not sacrifice for any of them (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him). If it had been good, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have done it. He only sacrificed for himself and his household, meaning the living. However, we say: if a person sacrifices for himself and his household and intends it for the living and the dead, there is no harm in that, if Allah wills. As for bequests, they must be carried out exactly as they are.