Q 2: Is it permissible to eat from the meat of animals slaughtered (in sacrifice) for the sake of any Waliy (pious person) like `Abdul-Qadir Al-Jilany or any other person, since such (Part No. 1; Page No. 65) banquets are widespread in our country? We would like to know the ruling of Shari`ah (Islamic Law) on them.

A: The animals slaughtered to draw nearer to the Awliya' (pious people), Jinn (creatures created from fire) or Satans; those on which names other than Allah's Name are pronounced upon slaughtering are not permissible to eat, for Allah (Exalted be He) says, Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allâh’s Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal) And Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maitah (the dead animals- cattle- beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which Allâh’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering Thus, slaughtering for other than Allah (Exalted be He) is a form of major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship that takes the Muslim out of Islam), such as slaughtering for Shaykh Abdul-Qadir Al-Jilany or Al-Badawy or any other person.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.