Sacrifice on Behalf of the Deceased: Ruling and Shar‘i Guidance
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam), Vol. 2, p. 182
Can sacrifice (Qurbani) be made on behalf of deceased parents or other departed relatives? It is popularly claimed that the Prophet ﷺ used to offer one sacrifice for himself and another on behalf of his Ummah — is this correct?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The author has presented detailed research on this subject in the monthly Shahadat. Here is a summary:
◈ The Hadith reported as evidence for the permissibility of sacrificing on behalf of the deceased is weak.
◈ However, in light of the general evidences found in Ahadith and Athar regarding Sadaqah, it is permissible to perform a sacrifice on behalf of a deceased person.
◈ In such a case, the entire meat of the sacrifice should be given in charity.
أحب إلي أن يتصدق عنه ولا يضحى عنه، وإن ضحى فلا يأكل منها شيئاً ويتصدق بها كلها
“It is more beloved to me that charity be given on his behalf and no sacrifice be done for him; however, if a sacrifice is made, then he should not eat from it at all but give all of it in charity.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter: What has been reported about sacrificing on behalf of the deceased, Hadith: 1495)
Although sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is not legislated based on an authentic Hadith, it is permissible due to the general evidences for charity.
However, the cautious approach is that if it is done, the meat should be entirely given away in charity rather than consumed by the offerer.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam), Vol. 2, p. 182
Question:
Can sacrifice (Qurbani) be made on behalf of deceased parents or other departed relatives? It is popularly claimed that the Prophet ﷺ used to offer one sacrifice for himself and another on behalf of his Ummah — is this correct?
Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The author has presented detailed research on this subject in the monthly Shahadat. Here is a summary:
Permissibility of Sacrifice for the Deceased
◈ The Hadith reported as evidence for the permissibility of sacrificing on behalf of the deceased is weak.
◈ However, in light of the general evidences found in Ahadith and Athar regarding Sadaqah, it is permissible to perform a sacrifice on behalf of a deceased person.
◈ In such a case, the entire meat of the sacrifice should be given in charity.
Statement of Shaykh al-Islam ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak (رحمه الله)
أحب إلي أن يتصدق عنه ولا يضحى عنه، وإن ضحى فلا يأكل منها شيئاً ويتصدق بها كلها
“It is more beloved to me that charity be given on his behalf and no sacrifice be done for him; however, if a sacrifice is made, then he should not eat from it at all but give all of it in charity.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter: What has been reported about sacrificing on behalf of the deceased, Hadith: 1495)
Conclusion
Although sacrifice on behalf of the deceased is not legislated based on an authentic Hadith, it is permissible due to the general evidences for charity.
However, the cautious approach is that if it is done, the meat should be entirely given away in charity rather than consumed by the offerer.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
