He has another question in which he says, “We have a custom that when the month of Dhu al-Hijjah enters, in the first ten days, every household slaughters a sacrificial animal and says, ‘O Allah, make it for the souls of our deceased.’”
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The questioner : We have a custom that when the month of Dhu al-Hijjah enters, in the first ten days, every household slaughters a sacrificial animal and says, ‘O Allah, make it for the souls of our deceased.’ This is something we do every year, and we call it the Hajj of the deceased. Is this correct? Please inform us. May Allah reward you all with good, and we offer you our sincere thanks?
The Shaykh : This is not correct; rather, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah). One does not draw near to Allah through slaughter except in what has been established by the Sunnah.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : There are three matters: the 'Id sacrifice (udhiyah), the sacrificial animals for the House in Makkah, and the third is the sacrifice for a newborn ('aqiqah). These are the prescribed slaughters. As for anything other than these, it is not prescribed. Furthermore, their claim that this is the Hajj of the deceased is not correct. The deeds of the deceased are cut off, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is not from ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah), because the meaning of ongoing charity is that a person endows something that people benefit from after his death, or knowledge that is benefited from after him, if he taught someone beneficial knowledge and they acted upon it after his death, or if he taught them and they benefited from it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And a righteous child, whether male or female, from among his children, if they make du'a' for him, he benefits from it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : This is a message from Abdullah Muhammad Samran al-Harithi from the village of Muriq Banu al-Harith. He says in his message:
The Shaykh : This is not correct; rather, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah). One does not draw near to Allah through slaughter except in what has been established by the Sunnah.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : There are three matters: the 'Id sacrifice (udhiyah), the sacrificial animals for the House in Makkah, and the third is the sacrifice for a newborn ('aqiqah). These are the prescribed slaughters. As for anything other than these, it is not prescribed. Furthermore, their claim that this is the Hajj of the deceased is not correct. The deeds of the deceased are cut off, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When the son of Adam dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: ongoing charity, or knowledge that is benefited from after him, or a righteous child who makes du'a' for him.
إذا مات ابن ءادم انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاثة، صدقة جارية أو علم ينتفع به من بعده أو ولد صالح يدعو لهThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And a righteous child, whether male or female, from among his children, if they make du'a' for him, he benefits from it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : This is a message from Abdullah Muhammad Samran al-Harithi from the village of Muriq Banu al-Harith. He says in his message: