What is the ruling on slaughtering for guests not to honor them, but to ward off blame?
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The questioner : Regarding slaughtering for guests to honor them, some people slaughter with the intention of warding off blame or criticism or the like, not with the intention of drawing near to Allah. So, what is the ruling?
The Shaykh : Not with the intention of what?
The questioner : Not with the intention of drawing near to Allah, but only to ward off blame, and sometimes it may be for social courtesy.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So, does this slaughter remain on the original ruling, or is it said to be forbidden as a result of this intention, meaning?
The Shaykh : This slaughter remains on the original ruling, because among the things a person is commanded to do is to ward off blame from himself. Do not think that if you do what wards off blame from yourself, you are wrong; rather, this is the correct course. Did you not know that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when he was in i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) and Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) came to him, and he got up to escort her to her house, and two men from the Ansar passed by and hurried away, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 3281.
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to ward off evil from themselves so that they would not think of the Messenger what is not fitting for him. And there is a hadith whose authenticity I do not recall at the moment:. So, there is no blame on a person who slaughters for a guest to ward off blame from himself.
But he should add to this drawing near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) by honoring the guest, because honoring the guest is part of faith in Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2500Sahih (Darussalam). Yes.
The questioner : O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : A fine point. May Allah keep you alive. Read it.
The Shaykh : Not with the intention of what?
The questioner : Not with the intention of drawing near to Allah, but only to ward off blame, and sometimes it may be for social courtesy.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So, does this slaughter remain on the original ruling, or is it said to be forbidden as a result of this intention, meaning?
The Shaykh : This slaughter remains on the original ruling, because among the things a person is commanded to do is to ward off blame from himself. Do not think that if you do what wards off blame from yourself, you are wrong; rather, this is the correct course. Did you not know that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when he was in i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) and Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) came to him, and he got up to escort her to her house, and two men from the Ansar passed by and hurried away, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
It is Safiya, the daughter of Huyay (i.e. my wife)." They said, "Glorified be Allah!
إنها صفية بنت حيي فقالا : سبحان اللهThe Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to ward off evil from themselves so that they would not think of the Messenger what is not fitting for him. And there is a hadith whose authenticity I do not recall at the moment:
May Allah have mercy on a man who restrains backbiting from himself
رحم الله امرأ كف الغيبة عن نفسهBut he should add to this drawing near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) by honoring the guest, because honoring the guest is part of faith in Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, then let him honor his guest.
من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليكرم ضيفهThe questioner : O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : A fine point. May Allah keep you alive. Read it.