If one vows to slaughter a sheep for Allah, is it permissible for him to eat from it?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh: Some people believe that if one vows to slaughter, for example, a sheep, that it is not permissible for him to eat from it. Is this correct?
The Shaykh : This depends on the intention. A person might say, "If so-and-so, who is absent, comes to me, I have a vow to slaughter a sheep for Allah." We ask him, "Did you intend by this to thank Allah for His blessing of the absent person's arrival, or did you intend to display joy and happiness at his arrival?" If his intention is the former, he does not eat anything from it, because he intended it as charity, so he does not eat anything from it. If his intention is the latter, he may eat from it. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 1.
But in my opinion, most people intend by this to thank Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for this blessing, especially if it is for the recovery of a sick person from his illness. Many people have a sick person, and they vow that if Allah cures their sick person, they will slaughter a sheep. We say regarding this: do not eat from it, because it appears that he intended by this what? What did he intend by this, you who asked the question!
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : To thank Allah. And if he intended to give thanks, then it is charity.
The Shaykh : This depends on the intention. A person might say, "If so-and-so, who is absent, comes to me, I have a vow to slaughter a sheep for Allah." We ask him, "Did you intend by this to thank Allah for His blessing of the absent person's arrival, or did you intend to display joy and happiness at his arrival?" If his intention is the former, he does not eat anything from it, because he intended it as charity, so he does not eat anything from it. If his intention is the latter, he may eat from it. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.
إنما الأعمال بالنيات وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوىBut in my opinion, most people intend by this to thank Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for this blessing, especially if it is for the recovery of a sick person from his illness. Many people have a sick person, and they vow that if Allah cures their sick person, they will slaughter a sheep. We say regarding this: do not eat from it, because it appears that he intended by this what? What did he intend by this, you who asked the question!
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : To thank Allah. And if he intended to give thanks, then it is charity.