Question
During the current Qur'bani season a man purchased several sheep from a Darul Uloom which does Qur'baani on a big scale every year. The sheep were small, not more than 5 or 6 months old. I am aware that if a six-month old sheep is big and fat, and if let loose in a flock of one-year old sheep, it will be the same in size, then Qur'baani of such a sheep is valid. However, these 5 and 6 month old sheep were very small. They could never pass for one-year olds. The meat yield was about 8 kg. Is the Qur'baani of such sheep valid? Is there perhaps another fatwa governing such animals if slaughtered by a Darul Uloom? When I brought this fact to the attention of the man, he said that it was not his concern if the Qur'baani was valid or not because the senior Ulama of the Darul Uloom condoned and legalized the Qur'baani. What is the Shar'i ruling on this issue? Also advise about a big six month old goat which has the appearance of a year-old goat. Is Qur'baani of such a goat valid?
Answer
Qur'baani of the small lambs described by you is most certainly not valid. There is no separate law for Darul Ulooms. The Qur'baani obligations were not discharged by slaughtering such small lambs. If any of these animals were for Waajib Qur'baani, then it is incumbent on the respective persons to make qadha of their Qur'baani by giving a live animal to the poor or the price of an animal. A 6 month old or a less than 1 year goat is not valid for Qur'baani, even if it passes as a 1 year old in size.
If an animal is slaughtered to compensate for the corrupted Qur'baani, all the meat and every item of the slaughtered animal will be Waajibut Tasadduq, i.e. it will be compulsory to distribute everything of the animal to only the Fuqara and Masaakeen. The person whose Qur'baani it is and the wealthy may not consume of the meat.
The vindication for this haraam act of slaughtering deficient animals which invalidate the Qur'baani, is satanic. Such logic is severely castigated by Allah Ta'ala. In regard to this man's Yahudi-type justification of haraam, the Qur'aan Majeed states:
"They (the laity - the ordinary people of Bani Israaeel) take their Ulama and their Mashaaikh as gods besides Allah, (and they take for their god) Isaa, the son of Maryam."
When the Sahaabi, Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Salaam (radhiyallahu anhu), who was among the leading Ulama of the Tauraah, asked Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) for the tafseer of this aayat, Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) explained that when the ulama-e-soo' of Bani Israeel would make halaal into haraam, and vice versa, the laity would accept such mutilation of the Ahkaam and follow it. This they did because it well-suited their nafsaani desires.
Thus, the brother who sought to shrug off his Deeni responsibility and Waajib obligation by passing the buck to the errant Ulama of the Darul Uloom cast himself into the mould
of the laity (awaam) of Bani Israaeel. He made the Ulama of the Darul Uloom his arbaab min dunillaah (gods besides Allah). Allah Ta'ala expects that all Muslims utilize the treasure of Aql bestowed to them. Basic masaa-il of Istinja, Tahaarat, Salaat, Zakaat, Qur'baani, etc. are known to all Muslims. Even the juhala quickly understand these masaa-il (rules) when they read them in elementary text books prepared for Maktab kids.
This brother despite being aware of the one year requirement for sheep, soothed his conscience by having appointed the Ulama of the Darul Uloom his 'gods' besides Allah Ta'ala. He utilized the Darul Uloom's Ulama as a scapegoat for his shirk – his assignment of partners with Allah Azza Wa Jal by citing the miscreant Ulama in derogation of Allah Azza Wa Jal, and in abrogation of the Ahkaam of Allah's Shariah. May Allah Ta'ala save us from the kufr and shirk of our nafs.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- Awake! 1436 (2015)
- PDF page
- 59
Appears under QUR'BAANI OF LAMBS.