Question:
Assalamu alaykum,
1. Is it permissible / possible to give qurban of parts of a cow with the intention of it benefiting a person who is not living? I’d like to include my grandmother who has passed on. Kindly advise.
2. Is it permissible / possible to give qurban on behalf of our beloved Prophet’s name. If so, which part of the animal should his name be included in.
3. What are the rulings if this is possible to do it in a acceptable manner … what are the recitations before the act of sacrifice.
4. This qurban will be done in another country and I will not be physically present to oversee the sacrifice. I was told by my family that giving qurban for those who have passed on is not allowed.
Answer:
Alaykum Salam,
Slaughtering and distributing qurban for the benefit of those who have passed on is allowed just as our dua benefits them also, as mentioned in the Aqida Tahawiyya. The reward of all kinds of worship without exception can be donated to the Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) and any other member of his Umma living or dead. See on this the Masa’il khathura hawlaha al-niqash wal-jadal (Frequently Discussed and Disputed Questions) by Habib Zayn b. Sumayt, may Allah preserve him.
However, what is donated is the reward for the qurban as a whole, not its parts nor this or that part only.
The statement of intent is: “This sacrifice (qurban) is offered to Allah Most High by [person who pays and intends for it] for his/her own benefit and that of [recipient(s) of donation, living or dead].”
And Allah knows best.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
