IMMOLATION  AND  VOTIVE  OFFERINGS

To Immolate in the name of anyone other than Allah is an act of Polythism

By Allama Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Bin Baz, Translated by: Dr. Abul Hayat Ashraf

 

QUESTION:

My tribesmen immolate at the tombs of saints and piousmen. I strived hard to stop them from continuing this practice, but, their arrogance increased more and more. I told them that this practice is a practice of committing polytheism with Allah. They retorted that they worship Allah, the Most High, as He deserves to be worshiped and that if they go on pilgrimage of the saints of Allah and beseech Allah, the Most High, in their prayers, saying that “O Allah! Grant us healing and deliver us from afflictions on account of entreaty of such and such a saint”, there which sin does befall in it? I told them that no petitioning medium in between Allah and a subject of Allah is required in our Deen. They replied: “Leave us in our state”. What may be done in order to bring back these people on the path of righteousness? What should I do and how should I wage a war against heresy (Bidat)

ANSWER:

It reveals from the general arguments found in the Glorious Quran as well as the Traditions of the Holy Apostle of Allah (S.A.W.) that immolating animals in the name of saints, jinn, and other creatures, instead of immolating it in the name of Allah, is an act of polytheism with Allah and a practice of the age of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic period)

Allah, the Most High, said: “Say (O Muhammad S.A.W.): “Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the all worlds (Alameen). He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims”. (Surah Al Anam: 162:163)

“Nusuk” is a term used for immolation. In this Verse Allah, the Most High, has declared immolation for anyone other than Allah to be Shirk (Polytheism), in the same way as observing Salah for anyone other than Allah is Shirk (polytheism). Allah, the Most High, said: “Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad (S.A.W.) Al-Kauthar (a river in Paradise). Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only). (Surah Al-Kauthar, 1-2)

In this gracious verse, Allah, the Most High, has commanded His Prophet (S.A.W.) to observe Salat for his Lord and to immolate for Him, in contradiction with the polytheists who prostrate deities other than Allah and immolate for them. And there is a Command of Allah, the Most High.

“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him) (Surah Al-Isra: 23)

Allah, the Most High, also said: (And they were commanded not but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone)” (Surah Al-Bayyinah: 5)

There are a number of verses conveying this theme.

Immolation is a kind of worship and, therefore, allowable only for Allah’s sake. It is narrated by Ameerul Mumeneen ‘Ali bin Abi Talib and collected this tradition by Imam Muslim that the Holy Apostle (S.A.W.) said: “Allah, the Most High, imprecates the man who slaughters the animals for anyone other than Allah”. And if someone says that I ask Allah on account of entreaty of saints or their solicitation or on account of entreaty of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) or his supplication, it is not shirk (polytheism). However, according to the majority of Islamic scholars, it is heresy (bidat) and one of the means of polytheism (Shirk), because prayer is a worship and it has the same status which is described by the law-giver (S.A.W.). No such tradition of the distinguished Prophet (S.A.W.) is found anywhere which would justify sponsorship of any creation or entreaty of his charity becoming legitimate. This right does not accede to any Muslim that he would invent such any form of mediate agency which Allah, the Most High, has declared to be unallowable. Allah, the Most High, said:

“Or have they partners with Allah who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not ordained)” (Surah Ash-Shura; 21)

And the Holy Apostle (S.A.W.) said: “Anyone who introduces a new thing in this religion is not acceptable”. This is an authentic Hadith accepted by all. There is a tradition in Saheeh Muslim which is collected by Imam Bukhari without its chain of authority but convincing its authority that: “Whoever does an action which has no guidance in Holy Quran and Sunnah is not acceptable”.

Therefore, it is necessary for a Muslim that he adheres to the practices legitimatized by Allah, the Most High, and avoids heresies originated by humans. Now the allowable procedure of entreaty is to adopt the medium of the names and attributes of Allah, Most High, His Unitary-Oneness and the good deeds.

Similarly, Allah be beseeched by the means of the belief in Allah and His Apostle (S.A.W.), love for His Apostle (S.A.W.) and other deeds of goodness and virtues.