80- Ruling on Slaughtering Animals and Eating their Meat by Graves (1)
Q: What is the ruling on slaughtering animals by a graveyard that contains a sepulcher? People who indulge in such practice say that the animals are dedicated to Allah, but they only like to slaughter them near the Awliya (pious people). So people come from different remote places to slaughter their animals and eat from their meat by the same location. Is this Halal (lawful) to do so? Please advise us on this issue.
A: The practice referred to in the question is Bid`ah (heresy in religion) and a means to Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). The fact that those people apparently say that the animals are dedicated to Allah (Exalted be He) does not render the act lawful. On the other hand the dedication of immolations to the dead in the graves is an act of major Shirk. May Allah protect us all from this vice. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Say (O Muhammad ﷺ ): "Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the `Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).) He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims." And, Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad ﷺ ) {Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only). In addition, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: May Allah curse whomever offer sacrifices for other than Him.) Offering sacrifices for the deceased to draw near to them or for the Awliya in the hope of attaining their Shafa`ah (intercession) or curing the diseased is an act of major Shirk. The same may be said about invoking the Awliya, seeking their help, making vows in their names, or making Tawaf (circumambulation) around the graves. However, the people that you referred to in the question are certainly mistaken and are committing a heresy. For, although they claim that they slaughter their animals for Allah (Exalted be He), they believe that this specific place is exceptionally blessed for the slaughtering. Such an act is impermissible Bid`ah that leads to Shirk. As we receive so many queries on the same matter, we advise Dua`ah (callers to Islam) to guide people to the truth and educate them so that they have deep insight into their religion. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ﷺ ) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur`an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. And, And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims. Allah (Glorified be He) also says: Say (O Muhammad ﷺ ): "This is my way; I invite unto Allah (i.e. to the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allah i.e. to the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism with sure knowledge). The followers of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) have the obligation to invite to Allah (Exalted be He) with sure knowledge. They should educate and guide people and ever live up to their duty. The Prophet (ﷺ) is reported to have said to "Ali ibn Abi Talib: It is much better for you that you guide even angle person (to Islam), by the permission of Allah, than to possess a herd of the most expensive species of red camels. Moreover, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: Whoever guides people to the doing of the good will receive a likewise reward.)
[Vol. 2, Page No. 267-269]