OFFERING SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS FOR DEITIES OTHER THAN ALLAH

The Urdu and Persian word for animal sacrifice used is Qurbani (Sacrificial slaughter), it is derived from the Arabic word Qurban. Lexically, it means an act performed to seek Allah’s (Glory be to Him) pleasure. Originally, the word Qurban included all acts of charity because the purpose of charity is nothing but to seek Allah’s (Glory be to Him) pleasure. But, in precise religious terminology, the word was later confined to the sacrifice of an animal slaughtered for the sake of Allah (Glory be to Him).

Udhiyah refers to the animals of An’am class (camel, cow, goat or sheep) that is sacrificed as an act of worship to Allaah, during the period from after the Eid prayer on the Day of Nahr (Eid al-Adha) until the last day of Tashriq (the 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah), with the intention of offering sacrifice. Hady refers to the sacrifice offered by Hajj pilgrims in Makkah while Udhiyah refers to the sacrifice offered by non-pilgrims.  

SLAUGHTERING IS DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES:

SLAUGHTER FOR ALLAH:

The sacrifice of Hajj, Eid, Aqeeqah, or Charity.

SLAUGHTERING FOR OTHER THAN ALLAH:

Out of love & glorification such as the jinn and the dead. This is major shirk.

PERMISSIBLE SLAUGHTERING:

To serve the guests, for business ect.

Almighty Allah says:

“Say, ‘Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds – no partner has He. And this I have been commanded and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims.’ “

(Qur’an: Al-An’am: 162, 163)

General Meaning of the Qur’anic Verses Allah, Exalted be He, commanded His Prophet (PBUH) to inform the polytheists who worshipped deities besides Allah that his own prayers, sacrificial offerings, faith and good deeds must be solely dedicated to Allah. Relevance of the Qur’anic Verses to the Chapter The Qur’anic verses affirm that offering sacrifices to any false deity or object besides Allah is an act of polytheism. Lessons Drawn from the Qur’anic Verses :

❖ Offering a sacrifice for the sake of any deity besides Allah is regarded as an act of major polytheism. Prayer precedes sacrifice in the Qur’anic verse; since Prayer must only be offered for Allah’s sake, so must sacrifices. 

❖ Prayer and sacrifices are of the greatest and most rewarded devotional acts. 

❖ The obligation of dedicating all devotional acts with sincerity for Allah’s sake 

❖ Allah has ordained all devotional acts. Nobody is authorized to innovate further practices not enunciated by the Prophet (PBUH). The Qur’an provides, ”… And this I have been commanded….”.

Almighty Allah also says:

“So pray to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him alone).”

(Qur’an: Al-Kawthar: 2)

General Meaning of the Qur’anic Verse Unlike the polytheists who worshipped false deities and offered sacrifices for the sake of their idols, the Prophet (PBUH) was commanded to dedicate his prayers and sacrifices solely to Allah. Relevance of the Verse to the Chapter Sacrificing is an act of worship, which must be dedicated to Allah. Sacrificing for the sake of other deities besides Him is an act of major polytheism. Lessons Drawn from the Qur’anic Verse

 ❖ Devotional acts turn into acts of major polytheism once dedicated to false deities. Since offering sacrifices is an act of worship, it turns into an act of major polytheism once dedicated to anything besides Allah. 

❖ Prayer and sacrificing are of the greatest devotional acts. 

❖ Offering prayers and sacrifices to Allah are of the greatest proofs of acknowledging Allah’s grace and showing gratitude.

‘ Ali Ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “The Prophet (PBUH) told me four things:

‘May the curse of Allah be upon him who sacrifices for anyone other than Allah; may the curse of Allah be upon him who curses his parents; may the curse o f Allah be upon him who accommodates an evildoer; and may the curse of Allah be upon him who changes the boundary lines of the land (to steal it).’

(Related by Muslim)

• The curse of Allah: Curse is a ban or deprivation of Allah’s mercy. 

• The one who sacrifices for anyone other than Allah: It includes those who offer sacrificial animals for the sake of memorials, shrines, jinn and so forth. 

• Who curses h is parents: It also includes cursing fathers, mothers, and forefathers. The person incurs the same sin when he directly insults them or when he incurs curses by driving others to insult them.

 • The one who changes the boundary lines of the land: It means that those who change the boundary lines of lands or frontiers for the sake of plundering people’s properties, are also included among those cursed by Allah. General Meaning of the Hadith The Prophet (PBUH) warns his people against committing any of the following major sins, which incur Allah’s curse. 

These sins are as follows: 

1.Sacrificing for the sake of any deity besides Allah.

2.Cursing one’s parents, insulting them or driving others to insult them.

3.Harboring an innovative act of worship and providing a secure shelter for a person who is liable for a legal punishment.

4.Changing the boundary lines that demarcate people’s terrains for the sake of seizing their property without a just cause.

Relevance of the Hadith to the Chapter

 This hadith stresses the prohibition of offering sacrifices for the sake of any deity besides Allah. A perpetrator of such a grave sin is the first to be cursed according to the hadith.

 Lessons Drawn from the Hadith 

❖ Slaughtering a sacrificial animal for the sake of any deity besides Allah is an abominable and prohibited act. It is an act of polytheism and is reckoned as a major sin. 

❖ Offering sacrifices is an act of worship, which must be dedicated to Allah Alone. 

❖ The prohibition of insulting one’s parents or driving others to insult them.

 ❖ The prohibition of supporting a criminal or giving him shelter. 

❖ It is similarly prohibited to accept or harbor bid ‘ahs (innovative acts in religion).

 ❖ It is prohibited to change boundaries or frontiers for the sake of plundering people’s possessions.

❖  It is permissible to curse wrongdoers and sinners in order to restrain them from committing sins.

“The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, ‘A man entered Paradise because of flies and a man entered the Hellfire because of flies.They (the Companions) said, ‘How would it happen, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘Two men passed by a group  of people who used to worship an idol. They did not allow anyone to pass without offering a sacrifice to the idol. They, thus, asked the first to offer a sacrifice. He said, I have nothing to offer.’ They said, ‘Offer (something) even (it may be as little as) flies.’ He offered flies so that they would let him pass. Thereupon, he was cast into the Hellfire. When they asked the latter to offer something as a sacrifice for the sake of the idol, he said, I am not to offer any sacrifice for any deity besides Allah, Exalted be He.’ Thereupon, they beheaded him, and he was admitted into Paradise.’ 

(Related by Ahmad)

Tariq Ibn Shihab (the Narrator) His full name is Tariq Ibn Shihab Al-Bajali Al-Ahmasi. He was one of the Prophet’s Companions. Though he saw the Prophet, he did not directly receive his hadiths. The hadith reported by him is thus termed as mursal. Tariq died in 83 A.H.; may Allah be pleased with him. General Meaning of the Hadith With the aim of demonstrating the gravity of polytheism, the Prophet (PBUH) increased curiosity by prefacing the story with the phrase, “A man entered Paradise because o f flies and a man entered the Hellfire because of flies.” Upon hearing these words, the Companions asked in exclamation, ‘How can such little flies lead to Hellfire?’ Consequently, the Prophet (PBUH) illustrated that those two men, who belonged to the Children of Israel, intended to pass through a road where an idol existed. In order to pass through such a road, they were asked to offer a sacrifice for the sake of this idol as a means of glorification and exaltation. Therefore, the worshippers of such an idol demanded those two men to abide by such a polytheistic ritual. The first man asked to be excused for he was entirely without money. They approved of the slightest sacrifice he could offer, since their goal consisted in drawing him to polytheism. Upon offering flies for the sake of the idol, he was permitted to pass. As a result of his action, he was doomed to the Hellfire. The latter steadily refused to commit such a heinous act of polytheism and was thus murdered. He was consequently admitted into Paradise due to his firm belief.

 Relevance of the Hadith to the Chapter 

This hadith demonstrates that offering sacrifices is an act of worship, which entails polytheism if being observed for the sake of any false deity besides Allah.

 Lessons Drawn from the Hadith

 ❖ The gravity of any act of polytheism regardless of its slightness. 

❖ Whoever commits any act of polytheism will inevitably be doomed to Hellfire, and whoever adopts pure monotheism will be admitted into Paradise. 

❖ Anyone may inadvertently fall into an act of polytheism, which entails chastisement in the Hellfire. 

❖ People should be warned against all sins however slight they may be.

 ❖ Though the first person did not initially intend to offer sacrifices to the idol, he acceded to their will He was thus admitted into the Hellfire. 

❖ If a Muslim commits an act of polytheism, he becomes a polytheist, and will inevitably enter Hellfire. Had he not been a Muslim, the Prophet (PBUH) would have not said, “a man entered the Hellfire because of flies.” 

❖ People are judged according to their inner beliefs and intentions, however few their deeds are. 

❖ Sacrificing is an act of worship. However, when an act is offered to anyone other than Allah, it becomes an act of polytheism. 

❖ Belief in one God is a meritorious act, which will be greatly rewarded in the Hereafter. 

❖ The persistent adherence to righteous deeds is a greatly meritorious act.

REFERENCE:

[1] BOOK: “THE THREE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES”

EXPLANATION BY “Sheikh Haytham ibn Muhammad sarhan (Teacher at the prophet’s mosque)

 

[2] “CONCISE COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF TAWHID”

BY SHAYKH DR. SALIH AL FAWZAN Hafizullah.

 

[3] https://www.askislampedia.com/en/wiki/-/wiki/English_wiki/Animal+Sacrifice