The Ruling on Slaughtering in Order to Glorify a Person or Out of Hospitality Towards Him

Question :

It has become the custom of some Arabs to try to gain favor with one another when they are in need. Som Some- times, the one seeking to gain favor comes with a sheep, and he will not enter through the door until he has slaughtered it in Allah's Name. And sometimes, when the one seeking to gain favor approaches with the sheep (known as Al-'Aqirah), the one whom he approaches takes it and says: "The 'Aqirah is Haram," and he takes it for himself, and slaughters a different sheep out of hospitality for the one seeking favor. Is it permissible to eat the meat of these two animals or either of them, or is it not permissible?

Answer:

When a person slaughters a sheep or another animal for some other person, his intention by it might be to show hospitality. If he serves him a slaughtered animal which he and his companions and those invited with him eat; this is permissible. In fact, authentic Hadiths encourage and advocate it, for it has been confirmed in the Hadith of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Prophet ﷺ that he said:
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should be hospitable to his guest."

And it has been confirmed in the Hadith of Abu Shuraih Al-Ka'bi from the Prophet that he said:
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should be hospitable to his guest, and he should reward him for a day and a night. And hospitality is for three days. Anything after that is a charity. It is not permissible for him to stay with him until he makes things difficult for him."

The intention in slaughtering the animal might be only to glorify him and honor him, whether the sacrifice was served after that as food for him to eat or not. This is not permissible, indeed, it is a form of Shirk which merits Allah's Curse, since it is included in the general meaning of sacrificing for other than Allah. It has been confirmed that 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "The Messenger of Allah told me four things:
"Allah cursed the one who slaughters for other than Allah; Allah cursed the one who curses his parents; Allah cursed the one who gives refuge to the fugitive from justice; Allah cursed the one who alters the landmarks."

Accordingly, it is not permissible to eat this slaughtered animal, even if Allah's Name was mentioned over it when it is slaughtered. Because deeds are judged according to intentions, and this person intended to present this "Aqirah as a greeting to other than Allah, in order to glorify that person and merely to honor him, not for him to eat from it.

However, if he presented it alive, and the person from whom favor was sought took it and slaughtered it for his guests, or slaughtered another animal for the guests, it would be permissible to eat from it. Because it was not slaughtered in order to glorify him.

And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, Muhammad and upon his family and Companions.