This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Zubair Ali Zai Rahimahullah's Book on the Rules and Issues of Qurbani.
Question:
Is it permissible to offer Qurbani on behalf of the deceased?
Reference: (A questioner)
Answer:
In Sunan Abi Dawood
Reference: (Kitab al-Dahaya, Bab al-Adahiya 'an al-Mayit, Hadith 2790)
and Jami' Tirmidhi
Reference: (Abwab al-Adahiya, Bab ma Ja'a fi al-Adahiya 'an al-Mayit, Hadith 1495)
, it is narrated on the authority of Shareek bin Abdullah al-Qadi from Abu al-Hasna from al-Hakam from Hanash with a chain of narration that I saw Ali Wali Allah sacrificing two rams. I asked: What is this? He said: "The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, advised me to offer sacrifice on your behalf, so I am sacrificing on your behalf."
Reference: (End)
Its chain of narration is weak. Shareek al-Qadi was a mudallis (one who conceals a defect in the chain), and this narration is from 'an (a type of narration with a missing link). Abu al-Hasna is an unknown narrator.
Reference: (See Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 8053, and Athar al-Sufun, p. 399 under Hadith 784)
Both Hakim and Dhahabi were mistaken. They considered him to be al-Hasan bin al-Hakam and declared the hadith authentic, whereas Ibn al-Hakam was a different narrator and Abu al-Hasna mentioned is another narrator. Hukm bin Utaybah was also a mudallis and (conditionally authentic) narrates from عن. Imam Tirmidhi described this narration as strange.
When it is established that the mentioned hadith is weak, it becomes clear that there is no proof for sacrificing on behalf of the deceased. Now, if a person insists on sacrificing, he should consider it as charity and distribute all the meat among the poor and needy because giving charity on behalf of the deceased is permissible and there are numerous evidences for it. And Allah knows best.
Reference: (Fatawa Ilmiyyah / 1658)
Ruling on Sacrifice on Behalf of the Deceased
Question:
Can a sacrifice be made on behalf of parents or deceased elders, as it is commonly known that the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to offer one sacrifice on his own behalf and one on behalf of his Ummah?
Reference: (Zafar Alam, Lahore)
Answer:
In this regard, the research of the author has already been published in the monthly magazine Shahadat. In brief, the hadith permitting sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is weak; however, based on the general evidence of charity, sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is permissible. The entire meat of such a sacrifice should be given as charity.
❀ Sheikh al-Islam Abdullah bin al-Mubarak al-Marwazi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
أحب إلى أن يتصدق عنه ولا يضحى عنه وإن ضحى فلا يأكل منها شيئا ويتصدق بها كلها
In my view, it is preferable to give charity on behalf of the deceased and not to perform sacrifice; however, if someone does perform sacrifice, then they should not eat any part of it but rather give all the portions and meat as charity.
Reference: (Sunan Tirmidhi, Chapters on Sacrifices, Chapter on what has been narrated about sacrifice on behalf of the deceased, Hadith 1495)
Reference: Imam Tirmidhi has mentioned the statements of Abdullah bin al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, in Sunan Tirmidhi, and their authentic chains are recorded in his book Al-‘Ilal (As-Saghir). (See Siya, second edition, p. 889, published by Dar al-Salam with Sunan al-Tirmidhi) [Monthly Al-Hadith, Issue: 11/85]
