Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
A couple had a baby. This baby became sick soon after birth, and therefore has to undergo an operation. The couple want their relatives overseas to slaughter an animal and gift its meat to the poor with the intention of asking Allah to heal the baby. What is the ruling on doing this? Is it considered an innovation to do so?
Walaikum assalam,
1. Slaughtering an animal and giving the meat to the poor, needy, one’s relatives, neighbors, and friends is a righteous action worthy of reward from Allah.
2. There is general agreement that one may do tawassul (intercession or seeking a means) to Allah through one’s righteous works, as many hadiths indicate. [For one such hadith, see below.]
3. It would, therefore be permitted, as the scholars tell us, to perform a righteous action (such as slaughtering an animal and gifting its meat) for the sake of Allah, and with the intention of making it a means of tawassul (intercession) with Allah for a specific need.
Imam Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) mentioned the following hadith, reported by both Bukhari and Muslim, in his Riyad al-Salihin [Chapter 1. On Sincerity and having an intention for all actions, words and states, outward and inward]
12. Abu ‘Abdu’r-Rahman ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, “Three men of the past were travelling and took refuge for the night in a cave. They entered it and a rock fell down the mountain and blocked the entrance.
“They said, ‘The only thing that will rescue us from this rock is to call on Allah invoking good actions we have done!’
“One of them said, “O Allah, my parents are both old and it is my habit never to give milk in the evening either to my family or friends before giving it to them first. One day I went a long way in search of something and did not reach them until they had already gone to bed. I milked their evening drink but found them asleep. I did not want to wake them nor to give my family or friends their evening drink before they had had theirs, so I remained with the cup in my hand waiting for them to wake up until dawn came. The children were at my feet, crying because of hunger. Then they woke up and drank their drink. O Allah, if I did that out of the desire for Your Face, then rescue us from the situation we are in regarding this rock.” It opened up a little but they still could not get out.
“The second said, “O Allah! A cousin of mine was the person I loved more than any other. (Another variant has, “I used to love one of my uncle’s daughters with the most intense love it is possible for a man to have for a woman.”) I tried to seduce her and she refused me until, one year when she was in dire need, she came to me and I gave her a hundred and twenty dinars provided that she would let me do what I wanted with her. She did that but when I was about to have my way with her, (One variant has, “when I was between her legs.”) she said, ‘Fear Allah and do not break the seal without having the right to do so.’ Then I left her alone in spite of the fact that she was, of all people, the one I loved the most and also left her with the gold I had given her. O Allah, if I did that out of the desire for Your Face, then rescue us from our situation!” The rock moved a little further but they still could not get out.
“The third said, “O Allah, I employed some workers and gave all of them their wages except for one man who went off without taking what he was owed. I invested his wage until it multiplied in value. After a time he came to me and said, ”Abdullah, pay me my wage!’ I said, ‘All the camels, cattle, sheep and slaves that you see here have come from your wage.’ He said, ”Abdullah, do not make fun of me?’ I said, ‘I am not making fun of you.’ He took them all and drove them off, not leaving anything. O Allah, if I did that out of the desire for Your Face, then rescue us from the situation we are in!”
“The rock moved away and they walked out.'” [Agreed upon] (Sr. Ayesha Bewley’s translation)
And Allah alone gives success.
Walaikum assalam,
Faraz Rabbani.