Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear brother,

Assalaamolaikum,may I commend the service you are performing and congratulate you on the true guidance you have been chosen for by Allah SWT.

A year or so back I heard that it is recommended to give Qurbani on behalf of your parents ,at the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha,if you can afford it.I also heard that Rasool Allah sws did qurbani on behalf of the ummah and therefore it is acceptable if we do it on his behalf.So for the last two years I did it both from the side of my late mother and Rasool Allah sws.Now I am no longer sure if I have done the right thing,could you please guide me to the correct actions in this regard and if I have erred then how can I make amends?

thank you.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Can one offer sacrifice for parents?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. We humbly hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 4845 Narrated by Aisha

Allah's Messenger (saws) commanded that a ram with black legs, black belly and black (circles) round the eyes should be brought to him, so that he should sacrifice it. He (saws) said to Aisha: “Give me the large knife”, and then said: “Sharpen it on a stone.” She did that. He (saws) then took it (the knife) and then the ram; he placed it on the ground and then sacrificed it, saying: “In the name of Allah, O Allah, accept (this sacrifice) on behalf of Muhammad, and the family of Muhammad, and the Ummah of Muhammad".

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2789 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

The Prophet (saws) sacrificed two horned rams which were white with black markings and had been castrated. When he made them face the qiblah, he said: “I have turned my face towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth, following Abraham's religion, the true in faith, and I am not one of the polytheists. My prayer, and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the Universe, Who has no partner. That is what I was commanded to do, and I am one of the Muslims. O Allah it comes from Thee and is given to Thee from Muhammad and his Ummah. In the name of Allah, and Allah is Most Great. He then made sacrifice.”

The Noble Messenger of Allah (saws) did indeed offer the sacrifice for his family and his Ummah; thus it would be absolutely permissible if one wished to offer sacrifice for one’s parents or loved ones.

Ref: To sacrifice for the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws)

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21: There is indeed the best example for you to follow, in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

In all matters of the deen, the believers are commanded by Allah Subhanah to follow the example of the Messenger of Allah (saws). Never ever did the Messenger of Allah (saws) instruct the believers or his noble companions to sacrifice for him after his death, nor did his noble companions ever offer sacrifices for him after his death.

Among the best and most honorable deeds a believer, who sincerely loves Allah and His Messenger (saws), can and must do is to obey the command of Allah Subhanah and recite the ‘durood’ and supplicate Allah Subhanah to bless and honor the Prophet (saws).

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 56: Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet (Mohamed (saws)). O you who believe, you should also (ask Allah to) send blessings on him; and salute him with all respect.

Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-'As reported that he heard the Prophet (saws), saying, "If anyone invokes blessings upon me once, Allah will bestow blessings upon him ten times over." (Related by Muslim)

Ibn Mas'ud reported that the Prophet (saws), said, "The people nearest to me on the Day of Judgment will be the ones most conscientious in invoking blessings upon me." (Related by Tirmidhi).

Ahmad recorded that Abu Talha Al Ansari said, "The Prophet (saws), woke up one day cheerful and beaming. His companions exclaimed, 'O Prophet of Allah, you woke up today cheerful and beaming.' He replied, 'Yes! A messenger (Hadrat Jibrael a.s.) of Allah, the Mighty and the Glorified, came to me and said, "If anyone from your Ummah sends you a salutation, Allah will record for him ten good deeds, wipe off ten of his sins, and raise him thereby ten degrees in rank, and He will return his salutation with a similar salutation".' (Related by Ahmad)

Your Question: and if I have erred then how can I make amends?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.238 Narrated by Umar Al-Khattab

I heard the Prophet (saws) saying, "The reward of deeds depends on the intentions.”

Although sacrificing for the Messenger of Allah (saws) is not a recommended practice, it would be too harsh to call it an error or a sinful act. It is obvious that you offered the sacrifice to Allah Subhanah for the Prophet (saws) in good faith, and because of your love and respect for him; and if Allah Subhanah Wills, He will accept your sacrifice and reward you for your intentions.

The best way to make amends would be turn to Allah Subhanah, and obey His command by sending regular salutations on His Prophet (saws) as guided by Allah and His Messenger (saws).

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan