The ruling on going to a mountain to slaughter a sacrificial animal on it for the purpose of seeking rain

The question: Our brother, the questioner, Nabil Abdul Aziz Ali Yahya Lut, asks and says: In our village of Hisn Rayman, the people go to a mountain and take a sacrificial animal with them, which they slaughter on the mountain for the sake of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, hoping that Allah will have mercy on them and send down rain. Is this permissible or not? Please inform us; may Allah reward you. He has another question which we will present after you have kindly answered this one, if Allah wills.
The answer: This practice requires detailed explanation. If the slaughter is for Allah alone, and there is no other intended purpose—such as a grave at which they slaughter, or another belief associated with the mountain—and they did it merely by chance without specific intent, then there is no blame on them, and the sacrificial animal is for Allah alone. However, there is no need to go to a mountain, because this gives the impression that there are things being slaughtered in their homes or in any place where animals are slaughtered, and that is sufficient for Allah, the Exalted. One should draw near to Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, and then distribute this meat among the poor and needy, or eat it if they intended a meal, or if they intended to help the poor, they should divide it among them or give them whatever they wish from it. The point is that their intent to go to the mountain carries an element of suggestion. If the purpose of going to the mountain is to display the sacrificial animal and show that it is being slaughtered for Allah in the presence of witnesses, then there is no need to intend the mountain; they can slaughter it in a prominent place and divide it among the poor in their village, and that is sufficient. They should not intend the mountain, as this suggests they wanted something specific. However, if they intended that there is a buried dead person on the mountain, or a place where righteous men sat, or a cave where righteous people resided, and they seek blessing from it, this is not permissible. One must be careful about this. If the only purpose is to display the sacrificial animal, it can be displayed in any place. What is the need for the mountain? Even in their homes, they can slaughter it in the slaughter area or in their courtyard where the slaughter takes place, or in a place by the road where people can see it without harming anyone. There is no harm in this. The point is to display it in any way, but it should not give the impression that there is a specific intent, such as intending a specific mountain or a specific tree, so that they are not accused of shirk (associating partners with Allah) or bid'ah (religious innovation). There is no power or strength except with Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you. Your Eminence, the fathers tell us about something like this in our region before the call (da'wah) spread anew after the rule of the House of Saud. They say: They used to take cows and circle them around the mountains and around the valleys, and then slaughter one of them, and by doing so, they wanted to seek rain. Is this similar to that, Your Eminence?
The Shaykh: It is not far off; this is not distant. This is a mistake with no basis. In fact, this is from the innovations (bid'ah). The intended way to draw near to Allah is through the prayer for seeking rain (istisqa') and supplication. They should call upon Allah for help and perform the prescribed prayer. If they slaughter animals and give them in charity, or fast, or give charity in money, or in food from grains or dates, all of this is good. But they should not intend a place that suggests they are worshipping there, because a righteous man may have resided there, or established himself there, or been buried there. No, they should not suggest these things or intend them. As for their circling this valley or the mountains, this has no basis; in fact, it is an innovation, and there is no need for it. The point is to draw near to Allah in any place. Slaughter a cow, a camel, or sheep; all of this is good if they intend it as charity and to draw near to Allah, hoping that Allah will have mercy on them as they had mercy on the poor and did good to them. Charity during the time of seeking rain is required. Charities on the days of seeking rain are required, because Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, has mercy on His servants who are merciful. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
So if they give charity to the poor in money, or in slaughtered animals, or in clothes, or in food at a time of need, at a time of drought, this is among the causes of mercy, among the causes of Allah's mercy for them, because they had mercy on His servants.