Continuously Sacrificing on Behalf of the Deceased
According to the opinion of some scholars of the Ummah, it is also permissible to offer a continuous sacrifice on behalf of a deceased person. They have deduced this from the hadith narrated by Hazrat Hanash, which has been recorded by the Imams Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, and Hakim, in which he stated:
”ضحى على بكبشين: كبش عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم وكبش عن نفسه وقال: أمرني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن أضحي فأنا أضحي أبدا“
“Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) sacrificed two rams: one ram on behalf of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and one ram on his own behalf, and he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded me to offer sacrifice on his behalf. Therefore, I will always continue to offer sacrifice [on his behalf].”
– The words are from Al-Mustadrak.
هذا دليل على أنه لو ضحى عمن مات جاز
“This is evidence that if a person offers a sacrifice on behalf of a deceased, then doing so is permissible.”
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah states regarding this:
”وتجوز الأضحية عن الميت كما يجوز الحج عنه والصدقة عنه ويضحي عنه فى البيت ولا يذبح عند القبر أضحية ولا غيرها“
“Just as it is permissible to perform Hajj and give charity on behalf of the deceased, similarly it is correct to offer sacrifice on their behalf. The sacrifice on behalf of the deceased should be done at home. It is neither permissible to slaughter the sacrificial animal at their grave nor any other animal.”
Some scholars of the Ummah do not consider it permissible to offer continuous sacrifice on behalf of the deceased. They have declared the above-mentioned hadith weak.
See:
Those who argue for the permissibility of sacrifice on behalf of the deceased based on the above hadith hold that this hadith is authentic. Imam Hakim has declared its chain of narration (isnad) as sound.
See:
Hafiz Dhahabi has supported this view.
The famous Egyptian Muhaddith Shaykh Ahmad Shakir has also declared the chain of narration of this hadith as authentic.
Imam Abu Dawood remained silent on this matter and established the following chapter on it: [باب الأضحية عن الميت] “Chapter on Sacrifice on behalf of the deceased.”
