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:

AS SALAAM ALEIKUM WA RAHMATULLAH WA BARAKATUH

I did a Qurbani today & after doing it the "right way" I thought of the way we used to do it all these years. We used to say that we are doing the qurbani for so & so & than say BISMILLAH ALLAH O AKBAR. The question is "is that meat hallal or haram as it has been sacrificed for the sake of somebody but as a "rasam" ALLAH's name is taken with no intension of remembering HIM or for his pleasure." I shall await your answer in the light of THE HOLY QURAN..

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ANSWER:

Is the Qurbani meat halaal or haraam after invoking someone’s name?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever 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.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 3: Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which has been invoked the name of other than Allah, that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death, that which has been (partly) eaten by wild animals, unless you are able to slaughter it; that which is sacrificed on stone (alters) and also the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows. That is impiety.

The Right Way or Sunnah Way of doing a ‘hadi’ (qurbani or sacrifice) is in the name of Allah ALONE and for His Pleasure Alone. If the ‘qurbani’ is done for the pleasure of anybody else along with Allah, even though the name of Allah might be pronounced at the actual time of slaughter, that meat becomes ‘haraam’.

That is because the words used by Allah in the Holy Quran is “ohilla le gairillah” and not “zubihah le gairillah”. “Ohilla le gairillah” means saying (or even the intention) of any body else with Allah; all such food will be haraam for the believers, who fear Allah and the Last Day. And according to the traditions of the Holy Prophet (saws), this law applies not only to meat, but to all other types of food as well. Even if a fruit or sweets or anything is distributed in the name of anybody else with Allah, that food would be forbidden for the believers. ‘Qurbani’ or sacrifice can only be done for the Pleasure of Allah Alone, and absolutely no one else. ‘Qurbani’ is an act of ‘ibaadah’ (worship), and the Sunnah of the Messengers of Allah; and none save Allah Alone deserves our worship.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anam verses 161-163: Say (O Prophet), “Verily, my Lord has guided me to a Way that is straight and a deen of right. The path taken by Abraham, the true in faith, and he (Abraham) joined not gods with Allah.” Say, “Truly, my prayer, and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah Alone, The Cherisher of the Worlds. No partner has He. This am I commanded, and I am the first of those who bow to His Will.”

It is clear from the above aayah, that our prayer, our rites of sacrifice, our life and our death must be for none other than Allah Alone.

And Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

May Allah guide you and us all to the Siraat al-Mustaqeem.

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 and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan