What is the ruling in the Shari'ah, in your view, if a person slaughters a sheep and says, "O Allah, make its reward in the record of Shaykh So-and-so ibn So-and-so"? Is there anything of religious innovation in that?
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The questioner : What is the ruling in the Shari'ah, in your view, if a person slaughters a sheep and says, "O Allah, make its reward in the record of Shaykh So-and-so ibn So-and-so"? Is there anything of religious innovation in that?
The Shaykh : If a person slaughters a sheep or other livestock to give as charity on behalf of a deceased person, there is nothing wrong with that. However, if he slaughters it to honor this deceased person or to draw near to this deceased person, that is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is because slaughtering is an act of worship and a means of drawing near, and worship and drawing near are for Allah alone, as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-An'am 6:162-163] Therefore, one must distinguish between the two intentions. If the intention behind the slaughter is to give the meat as charity so that the reward is for the deceased person, there is nothing wrong with that. However, it is more preferable and better to make du'a' (supplication) for the deceased, if he is worthy of du'a' by being a Muslim, and the charity should be for the person himself. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not guide his Ummah (Muslim community) to give charity on behalf of their dead with anything, but rather he said: Sahih Muslim 1631 He did not say to give charity on his behalf, or fast on his behalf, or pray on his behalf. This indicates that du'a' is better and more excellent. And you, the living one, are in need of good deeds, so make the good deeds for yourself and make du'a' for your deceased brother. As for if his intention in slaughtering for So-and-so is to draw near to him and honor him, that is major shirk, because he has directed a type of worship to other than Allah the Exalted.
The questioner : Also, O honorable Shaykh, his second question says:
The Shaykh : If a person slaughters a sheep or other livestock to give as charity on behalf of a deceased person, there is nothing wrong with that. However, if he slaughters it to honor this deceased person or to draw near to this deceased person, that is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is because slaughtering is an act of worship and a means of drawing near, and worship and drawing near are for Allah alone, as Allah the Exalted said:
(162) Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. (163) No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims."
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ * لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَWhen a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious child, who prays for him (for the deceased).
إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاثة: إلا من صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهThe questioner : Also, O honorable Shaykh, his second question says: