Nasai

Hadith Commentary:
Thus, giving charity (sadaqah), alms, and offering sacrifice (qurbani) for the sake of Allah is permissible at all times. However, to specify any other month besides Dhu al-Hijjah for sacrifice or charity, by imposing such a restriction, has no basis in Islam. Just as conveying reward (isal al-thawab) to the deceased is permissible, but specifying the third day (tijah), the tenth day (wahm), or the fortieth day (chehlum) is impermissible and an innovation (bid‘ah), for which there is no foundation in the Shari‘ah.

Completed with goodness.

Conclusion: All praise is due to Allah, by whose grace good deeds are completed! After praise and blessings, solely by the grace and mercy of Allah the Exalted, and as a result of the sincere prayers of the devotees of Islam, today I have completed the writing of this section.

May Allah the Exalted forgive my slips of the pen and accept this service to the Prophetic hadith, and make it a source of blessings in both worlds for all the honorable helpers, esteemed enthusiasts, and brothers in Islam.

Those who, from near and far regions, are encouraging this humble one with their sincere and noble prayers for the completion of the Urdu translation of Sahih Bukhari Sharif.

O Allah! Just as You have made the journey up to this point easy for me, likewise make the publication of the remaining eight sections easy as well, and grant me the ability to perform this service in accordance with Your pleasure and that of Your beloved (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

O Allah! Accept this service on behalf of my respected teachers, all the honorable helpers, and my family and children, and gather us all on the Day of Resurrection in the court of the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), grant us the water of Kawthar from his blessed hand, and make this great service a means of salvation for all of us.

Our Lord, accept from us; indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
And turn to us in mercy; indeed, You are the Oft-Returning, the Most Merciful.
By Your mercy, O Most Merciful of those who show mercy, and send blessings upon Your beloved, the best of the messengers, and upon his family and all his companions. Ameen, O Lord of the worlds.

Written by: Muhammad Dawood Raz, son of Abdullah al-Salafi, Masjid Ahl-e-Hadith No. 1421, Ajmeri Gate, Delhi No. 6, India (Rabi‘ al-Awwal, year 1395 AH)

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
In the era of ignorance (Jahiliyyah), it was also called Rajabiyyah because it used to be slaughtered in the month of Rajab. Islam abolished this custom because it clearly contained elements of shirk (polytheism). However, Imam Shafi’i rahimahullah has considered it permissible when it is slaughtered in the name of Allah, as a man standing in Mina asked the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam: “O Messenger of Allah! In the days of ignorance, we used to slaughter ‘Atirah in the month of Rajab. What do you command regarding it?” He replied: “Slaughter in the name of Allah in whichever month you wish, and feed the people in the name of Allah.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i, al-Far’ wa al-‘Atirah, Hadith: 4234)

(2)
According to our view, charity and sacrifice are permissible at all times, but it is not correct to specify any sacrifice or charity for any month other than Dhu al-Hijjah. Just as giving charity on behalf of the deceased is permissible, but giving charity under the names of “Qul Khwani,” “Tija,” “Satwan,” “Daswan,” or “Chehlum” is an innovation (bid‘ah). There is no justification in the Shari‘ah for such specification. And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary:

Among the ignorant masses of Muslims, the custom of filling bowls (konday) in the month of Rajab is still practiced to this day under the name of the "Konday" ritual. In some places, this festival of filling bowls is celebrated with great ceremony during the last ten days of Rajab. Some people describe it as a vow (niyaz) to be performed while standing, and they eat it while standing as well. All of these are newly invented matters (muhdathat), innovations (bid‘ah), and misguidance (dalalah). May Allah guide the Muslims to avoid such absurdities. Ameen.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
There is further clarification in Abu Dawud that the first offspring of a she-camel would be slaughtered in the names of idols, and they themselves would eat it, and its skin would be thrown on the trees.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, al-Dahaya, Hadith: 2833)
In one narration, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam declared the practice of Fara’ to be valid, as is found in Sunan al-Nasa’i.
(Sunan al-Nasa’i, al-Fara’ wa al-Atirah, Hadith: 4230)
Imam al-Shafi’i rahimahullah states that Fara’ is permissible on the condition that it is slaughtered for the sake of Allah.
(Fath al-Bari: 9/739)
(2)
According to our inclination, this custom of the Jahiliyyah period continued in the era of Islam in the same manner, but Muslims began to slaughter it in the name of Allah, then this custom was suspended and abrogated.
And Allah knows best.

These were two types of sacrifices that were prevalent during the Age of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah). The first offspring born to a she-camel would be slaughtered as an act of gratitude in the name of idols; this was called "Fara’." Or, when someone’s herd reached one hundred camels, he would slaughter a young camel every year in the name of idols; this too was called "Fara’." At the beginning of the month of Rajab, the polytheists would slaughter a goat, which was called "Atirah." Just as Islam abolished other customs of Jahiliyyah, it also abolished these practices. However, if someone, out of gratitude, slaughters the first offspring of an animal or the hundredth animal in the name of Allah and gives it as charity to the needy, he will receive the reward of charity. For sacrifice (qurbani), however, it has been legislated for Muslims to perform it in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, so that is what should be done. Yes, if someone simply wishes to give charity, he may do so whenever he wishes, by preparing meat and giving it as charity; there is no restriction. The negation of Fara’ and Atirah in the hadith is regarding sacrifices offered in the name of idols; otherwise, offering a sacrifice at any time in the name of Allah is a recommended (mustahabb) act.

Benefits and Issues:
➊ In the era of ignorance (Jahiliyyah), various sacrifices were offered in the names of idols. Among these was also the "Fara’". However, when the command for sacrifice (qurbani) was given, offering sacrifice with this specific characteristic was abrogated. Nevertheless, slaughtering an animal in the name of Allah according to one’s ability and feeding the poor is a virtue that has not been abrogated. It should be remembered that, apart from the sacrifices established in the Shariah (Eid al-Adha and ‘Aqiqah), it is not permissible to specify any other day for sacrifice or charity.

➋ The sacrifice of ‘Atirah used to be offered in the month of Rajab. Now that too has been abrogated, but slaughtering an animal in the name of Allah according to one’s ability, without specifying a particular day or place, has not been abrogated; rather, it is recommended (mustahabb), only its obligation has been abrogated. For further details, see the benefits and issues of Hadith: 3125.

Benefit:
In this hadith, two practices from the Age of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah) are mentioned, and Islam has prohibited both of them:
➊ The first is "Fara‘" (فرع). Its meaning is: the disbelievers would set free the first offspring of an animal in the name of idols, and this is prohibited. Even today, some people dedicate the first offspring of an animal to a shrine, which is a forbidden act.
➋ The second is "‘Atirah" (عتیرہ), which refers to a goat that the members of a household would slaughter in the month of Rajab on behalf of all the family members. This too has been prohibited. Nowadays, some people arrange special feasts and distribute food (kunda) in the month of Rajab, which is completely incorrect.