A : If such a person slaughters an animal throughout the four days of `Eid­ul­Adha (the Festival of the Sacrifice) on behalf of his father or grandfather with the intention to offer sacrifice, then there is no harm in doing so. If he slaughters an animal at any time intending to give charity to the poor on their behalf, then there is no harm in doing so because charity benefits both the dead and the living, whether it is meat or something else like money or food. All these benefit the dead and the living. It is authentically narrated from Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) that he was asked whether a woman whose son gives charities on behalf of her after her death will receive a reward. He answered in the affirmative. It is narrated in Sahih Muslim(may Allah be merciful with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon) said: When a man dies, his acts come to an end but three: a recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (i.e. for the deceased). In conclusion, giving Sadaqah on behalf of the deceased is beneficial to him or her according to the consensus of Muslim scholars. The same applies to supplicating Allah (Exalted be He) for him. Thus, such a person can slaughter an animal on behalf of his father, grandfather, or any other person, whether intending to offer it as charity or as a sacrifice to be slaughtered throughout the four days of `Eid­ul­Adha (the Festival of the Sacrifice) to draw them nearer to Allah (may He be Praised and Glorified). However, it is not allowed

for him to appoint for such a sacrifice a fixed day or month other than the four days of `Eid­ul­ Adha (the Festival of the Sacrifice), except when focusing on the honored times like Ramadan and the first nine days of Dhul­Hijjah. There is no harm in doing so. There is a reward for the dead as well as the person offering the sacrifice according to the degree of his sincerity to Allah (Exalted be He) and the lawfulness of his earnings. On the contrary, if such a person does so intending to draw nearer to the dead as done by those sacrificing for the dead, the sun, the moon, or Jinn, then this is an act of major Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah), because it is not permissible for any one to draw near to any person through slaughtering, vowing, or any other act of worship exclusively confined to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ): "Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). "He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims." Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says: Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) Al­Kauthar (a river in Paradise). Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only). The Prophet (Peace be upon him) also says: "Allah has cursed the one who slaughters (a sacrifice) to other than Allah…" Narrated by Muslimin his Sahih. Thus, slaughtering for the Jinn, the dead, or other creatures, such as idols, planets, and the like, whether the slaughterer hopes for their intercession, believes that they benefit or save him from illness, or the like is legally unacceptable and Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah). The one who slaughters on behalf of one's father or grandfather believing that they can benefit him, cure an ill relative, or draw one near to Allah is like a person who slaughters for the sun, the moon, or the stars. All such acts are Shirk. We implore Allah to grant us safety.