The second question of Fatwa no. 1474
Q2: Is it permissible for a person to offer an Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) on behalf of a dead person?
A: All Muslims have agreed upon its permissibility. So, it is permissible to offer Ud-hiyah on behalf of a dead person because of the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him):
When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased).[1]
(Narrated by Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhy, Al-Nasa’y and Al-Bukhari in his book Al-Adab Al-Mufrad on the authority of Abu Hurayrah)
Offering Ud-hiyah on behalf of the dead is also considered a Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity) because it benefits the person offering it, the dead person and other people.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
[1] Related by Ahmad, vol. 2, p. 372; Muslim, vol. 3, p. 1255, no. 1631, Book on wills, Chapter on what reward a person gets after his death; Al-Bukhari, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, vol. 1, p. 113, no. 38, Chapter on dutifulness to parents; Abu Dawud, vol. 3, p. 117, no. 2880, Book on Wills, Chapter on giving Sadaqah on behalf of the dead; Al-Tirmidhy, vol. 3, p. 660, no. 1376, Book on judgments, Chapter on endowments; Al-Nasa’y, vol. 6, p. 251, Book on Wills, Chapter on the merit of giving Sadaqah on behalf of the dead; Al-Baghawy, vol. 1, p. 230, no. 139; Ibn Hibban, vol. 7, p. 286, no. 3016; and Al-Bayhaqy, vol. 6, p. 278.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
Member Deputy Chairman Chairman
`Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan `Abdul-Razzaq `Afify `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz
Posted from: http://alifta.net/Fatawa/FatawaChapters.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=4201&PageNo=1&BookID=7
AbdurRahman.Org 