Q: A question from a Sudanese brother reads as follows: We have a custom in our country that when a person wants to build a house for himself, he offers a sacrifice while constructing it or may delay it until the building is complete and is ready to occupy. They invite relatives and neighbors to this sacrifice. What is your opinion about this practice? Is there a prescribed act to be performed before occupying new homes? Could you kindly advise? May Allah reward you!
A: All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, his family, his Companions and those who follow his guidance.
This practice requires some clarification. In the case where the sacrifice is offered as protection against Jinn or some other reason for which the home owner seeks his safety or the safety of the inhabitants, it is not permissible because it is an act of Bid'ah (innovation in religion). If it is dedicated to the Jinn, it is a major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), because it constitutes 'Ibadah (worship) to other than Allah.
But if the home owner offers a sacrifice as an expression of gratitude for having completed the construction of his home then invites relatives and neighbors for this banquet, there is nothing wrong in this. This is done by many people out of gratitude to Allah for allowing them to build their own home and dwell in it, rather than renting one. This is what some people do when returning from a journey; they invite relatives and friends to thank Allah for their safe return. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to slaughter a camel when returning from a journey and would invite the people to partake of it.