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:

Asslamualaikum Respectable Mr. Burhan,

I had purchased a goat from illegal money Rs 1,300/- in year 2006, the goat family is now expanded in many goats.

Now I have planned to sacrifice one of the male goat from that family in this Eid-ul-Azha.

I know very well that this sacrifice is not as per Islamic teachings because the base goat was purchased from haram money.

Please guide me further that now what I have to do to make it halal sacrifice?

Please keep in mind that from year 2008, I do tauba and determined to not to repeat sort of haram earning activities, in which I am Alhamdulilah very successful and energetic.

Jazakallah.

(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:

Sacrifice illegal wealth

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: …..Please keep in mind that from year 2008, I do tauba and determined to not to repeat sort of haram earning activities, in which I am Alhamdulilah very successful and energetic.

Respected brother, may Allah Subahnah accept your taubah and your repentance, and keep you firm and steadfast on your path of faith. Ameen.

Please guide me further that now what I have to do to make it halal sacrifice?

As much as Allah Subhanah loves those who turn to him in sincere ‘taubah’; and as much as our Lord Most Merciful earnestly forgives the sins of those who turn to Him in repentance, the declaration of ‘taubah’ by itself does not make the earnings which were once earned through ‘haraam’ means, ‘halaal’ or lawful.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 66 Surah Tahreem Verse 8:

8 O ye who believe! Turn to Allah in ‘Tauba-tan Nasooha’ (sincerest repentance): in the hope that your Lord will remove from you your ills and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow…

Respected brother, if you have indeed turned to your Lord in ‘taubah’, then manifest your sincere repentance (Tauba-tan Nasooha) by giving away the wealth (or goats) which you earned through ‘haraam’ or unlawful means…..and sacrifice in the Cause of your Lord only what you have earned from lawful means.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 2214 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘O people, Allah is Good and He, therefore, accepts only that (charity/sacrifice) which is good and pure!’

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan