CAN UDHIYAH (I.E., THE ANIMAL SACRIFICED ON EID AL-ADHAA) BE OFFERED ON THE BEHALF OF RASUL ALLAAH (صلى الله عليه وسلم)?

INTRODUCTION:

Some people offer a sacrificial animal on Eid al-Adhaa on the behalf of Rasul Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) believing this to be their expression of love towards him (صلى الله عليه وسلم) however this action is unacceptable because it has not been prescribed by our beloved Rasul Muhammad Mustafa (صلى الله عليه وسلم) himself in any Saheeh Hadith nor its precedent is found in any Athaar of al-Sahaba al-Karam (رضي الله عنهم) transmitted with a Saheeh Sanad.
In this article, we will show the weakness of two narrations that are quoted in the support of this practice, and it’s thus hoped that the people would shun it إن شاء الله:

1. HADEETH FROM SUNAN ABI DAWUD:

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا ¹شَرِيْك، عَنْ ²أَبِي الحَسْنَاء، عَنِ ³الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ ⁴حَنَشٍ

قَالَ رَأَيْتُ عَلِيًا يُضَحِّي بِكَبْشَيْنِ فَقُلْتُ مَا هَذَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَوْصَانِي أَنْ أُضَحِّيَ عَنْهُ فَأَنَا أُضَحِّي عَنْهُ ‏.‏

سنن أبي داود:٢٧٩٠

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Narrated Hanash:

I saw Ali (رضي الله عنه) sacrificing two rams; so I asked him: What is this? He replied. Rasul Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) enjoined upon me to sacrifice on his behalf, so I am sacrificing on his (صلى الله عليه وسلم) behalf.

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[SUNAN ABI DAWUD 2790]

EVALUATION OF THE HADEETH:

Its Sanad is da’eef due to the following problems with its narrators:

1. Shareek bin Abdullaah al-Qaadhi had a bad memory and he is also a mudallis rAwi.
2. Abu al-Hasnaa is majhool.
3. Al-Hakim bin Utaybah is mudallis.
4. Hanash ibn al-Mutamir is a da’eef rAwi according to Jamhoor Aimah.

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2۔ AN ATHAR OF ALI (رضي الله عنه) RECORDED BY IMAM BAYHAQI (رحمه الله):

Similarly, it has been recorded in al-Sunan al-Kubra of Imam Bayhaqi (رحمه الله) that two rams were brought to Ali bin Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) on the Day of Nahr (i.e., the first day of Eid al-Adhaa) so he slaughtered the first on the behalf of Rasul Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saying:

بِسْمِ اللهِ ، اللهُمَّ مِنْكَ وَلَكَ وَمِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ لَكَ

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“In the name of Allaah; O Allaah, this [animal] is granted by You and [its sacrifice] is for Your sake; and, it is sacrificed on the behalf of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) for Your sake.”

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[AL-SUNAN AL-KUBRA LI AL-BAYHAQI 19187]

EVALUATION OF THE NARRATION:

Its Sanad is da’eef due to the following narrators:

1. Asim bin Shareeb in its chain has been declared majhool by Imam Abu Hatim al-Raazi (رحمه الله) in his work al-Jarh wa al-Ta’deel (6/487), and also by Hafiz al-Dhahabi (رحمه الله) in his work Mizan al-I’ tidal (2/352). Imam Ibn Hiban (رحمه الله) has mentioned about him in his book al-Thiqaat (5/239).
2. Abū Bakr al-Zubaydī’s thautheeq [i.e., recognition of his status as a thiqa rAwi] has not been established.
3. Thautheeq of Sufyan bin Muhammad bin Mahmoud al-Johari is also not found.
4. Thautheeq of Abu Nasr Ahmad bin Amr bin Muhammad al-Iraaqi is missing as well.

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CONCLUSION:

It is not proven authentically from any Sahabi, Tabi’ee or even Taba’ Tabi’ee that they offered a sacrifice on the behalf of Rasul Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). And, after knowing the weak status of the narrations quoted in this regard, it is incumbent upon every Muslim to give up this practice as the greatest proof of loving our Habeeb Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is by adhering to his Sunnah, and abstaining from innovating anything in the Deen.

TRANSLATED FROM A WORK OF SHAYKH GHULAM MUSTAFA ZAHEER AMANPURI (حفظه الله)