Is it permissible to offer a sacrifice on behalf of a deceased person?
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The questioner : Is it permissible to offer a sacrifice on behalf of a deceased person?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible to offer a sacrifice for a deceased person. This means that a person offers a sacrifice during the days of slaughter, that is, on the Day of Sacrifice and the three days following it, intending it for the deceased. For example, when slaughtering it, he says: "O Allah, this is from You and for You. O Allah, this is for so-and-so."
However, this is not a prescribed matter. It is not a prescribed matter because it is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he offered a sacrifice for any of his deceased relatives. The Mother of the Believers, Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her), passed away, and she was among the women he loved most, yet he did not offer a sacrifice for her. His uncle, Hamzah ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib, was martyred at Uhud, and he did not offer a sacrifice for him. Three of his daughters died during his lifetime, and he did not offer a sacrifice for them.
If this had been a prescribed matter, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have clarified it, either through his words, his actions, or his approval. We do not know of any Companion who offered a sacrifice for any of his deceased relatives during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
But if someone offers a sacrifice for a deceased person, we do not prevent him, even though some scholars have said that it does not benefit the deceased. They said that giving charity with the price of the sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is better than offering the sacrifice itself.
However, there is a matter here: if a person offers a sacrifice for himself and his family, intending it for both the living and the deceased, I hope that it will be beneficial, if Allah wills, and prescribed. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer a sacrifice for himself and his family. It is possible that this was for his living and deceased family members, and it is possible that it was for his living family members only.
The thing that should be condemned is what some people do. You find them buying a sacrifice with their own money and offering it for their deceased relatives, without intending it for themselves and their family. This is contrary to the Sunnah without a doubt. The sacrifice is, in principle, for the living only.
Another note: if a deceased person bequeaths a sacrifice, then it is necessary to offer it on his behalf in accordance with his bequest. This becomes part of his deeds, yes, part of his deeds, because he bequeathed it.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible to offer a sacrifice for a deceased person. This means that a person offers a sacrifice during the days of slaughter, that is, on the Day of Sacrifice and the three days following it, intending it for the deceased. For example, when slaughtering it, he says: "O Allah, this is from You and for You. O Allah, this is for so-and-so."
However, this is not a prescribed matter. It is not a prescribed matter because it is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he offered a sacrifice for any of his deceased relatives. The Mother of the Believers, Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her), passed away, and she was among the women he loved most, yet he did not offer a sacrifice for her. His uncle, Hamzah ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib, was martyred at Uhud, and he did not offer a sacrifice for him. Three of his daughters died during his lifetime, and he did not offer a sacrifice for them.
If this had been a prescribed matter, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have clarified it, either through his words, his actions, or his approval. We do not know of any Companion who offered a sacrifice for any of his deceased relatives during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
But if someone offers a sacrifice for a deceased person, we do not prevent him, even though some scholars have said that it does not benefit the deceased. They said that giving charity with the price of the sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is better than offering the sacrifice itself.
However, there is a matter here: if a person offers a sacrifice for himself and his family, intending it for both the living and the deceased, I hope that it will be beneficial, if Allah wills, and prescribed. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer a sacrifice for himself and his family. It is possible that this was for his living and deceased family members, and it is possible that it was for his living family members only.
The thing that should be condemned is what some people do. You find them buying a sacrifice with their own money and offering it for their deceased relatives, without intending it for themselves and their family. This is contrary to the Sunnah without a doubt. The sacrifice is, in principle, for the living only.
Another note: if a deceased person bequeaths a sacrifice, then it is necessary to offer it on his behalf in accordance with his bequest. This becomes part of his deeds, yes, part of his deeds, because he bequeathed it.