The ruling on dedicating the Adhha sacrifice to the Deceased

Question :

Is it permissible to dedicate the Adhha sacrifice to the deceased?

Answer:

The Adhha sacrifice is an act of drawing near to Allâh by slaughtering or sacrificing livestock animals during the days of 'Eidul-Adhha, which is during the day of the 'Eid and the three days following it. It is done with the purpose of drawing near to Allâh. It is a Sunnah for the living person. The sacrifice is done for him and his household members as the Prophet did.

If the person slaughters the Adhha sacrifice for himself and the members of his household and he intends that its reward will be for him and his family members, both the living and the dead among them, verily there is no harm in that. In reference to the Adhha sacrifice that is specifically for the deceased, it has two situations:

The First Situation: That the deceased willed that this be done. So, if he willed this Adhha sacrifice to be performed, then it is done in carrying out the will. This is due to Allâh's Statement when He mentioned the will:

"Then whoever changes the bequest after hearing it, the sin shall be on those who make the change. Truly, Allâh is All-Hearer, All- Knower. But he who fears from a testator some unjust act or wrongdoing, and thereupon he makes peace between the parties concerned, there shall be no sin on him. Certainly, Allâh is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful."

For verily these two Verses prove that the will of the deceased should be carried out as long as it is not a sin or an act of injustice.

The Second Condition: That the Adhha sacrifice be performed on behalf of the deceased by the initial decision of someone else. This is something that the scholars differ concerning, as to whether it is legislated or not. Among them there are those who say that it is legislated, like the Adhha sacrifice for the living and like charity for the dead. Among them there are those who say that it is not legislated because that is not reported from the Prophet SAW . For indeed people died among the Prophet's relatives and his wives, but it is not reported from him that he performed the Adhha sacrifice specifically for each one of them. His three daughters and his three sons died, but he did not perform a sacrifice for any one of them. His uncle Hamzah was martyred at the battle of Uhud, but he did not perform a sacrifice for him. His two wives, Khadijah and Zainab bint Khuzaymah died, but he did not perform a sacrifice for them. If this were from the legislated matters, the Prophet would have done it. However, I say if you want to perform the Adhha sacrifice on behalf of the deceased, sacrifice for yourself and your household members and make intentions that it is for you and your relatives, both the living and the deceased among them. And the bounty of Allâh is vast.

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