´It was narrated from Maimunah bint Kardam Al-Yasariyyah that :` her father met the Prophet (ﷺ) when she was riding behind him. He said: "I vowed to offer a sacrifice at Buwanah." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Is there any idol there?" He said: "No." He said: " Fulfill your vow." (Hasan)Another chain with similar wording.
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:
➊ The polytheists of Arabia used to make statues of certain revered figures and worship them; these were called "sanam" (idols). In addition to this, trees, rocks, graves, and stones associated with revered personalities were considered sacred, visited, and believed to be sources of blessing. Such things were called "wathan" (objects of veneration). The self-invented etiquettes and acts associated with visiting these objects are, in reality, acts of worship directed to these wathan. Avoiding both is a requirement of tawhid (monotheism).
➋ Wherever the worship of other than Allah takes place, a believer should also refrain from worshipping Allah there, so as not to resemble the polytheists.
➌ If there was once a wathan at a certain place and it has since been removed, one should still avoid acts of worship and sacrifice at that location, lest the worship of that wathan be revived.
➍ Sacrificing an animal in the name of other than Allah is forbidden (haram).
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 2131