OBJECTIONS and ANSWERS TO LOOKING AFIER ANIMALS ON THE NAME OF THE FRIENDS OF ALLAHعزوجل

OBJECTION 1: “وما اھل بہ لغیر اللہ”the word 'Uhilaa' comes from the root word 'IhlaaI', which doesn't mean sacrifice according to the dictionary, but to term something absolutely. Therefore, whichever animal is labeled on the name or other than Allahعزوجل whether in its lifetime or at the time of sacrifice, is carrion and impure. So, the sheep for Ghaus Paak رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ ., etc. is Haraam even though it is sacrificed on the Dame of Allahعزوجل.

Note- This objection is raised by Shah Abdul-Azeez, who has made a major mistake in not understanding this issue.

Answer - Definitely, the literal meaning of Ihlaal is to term or address something absolutely. However, its urfi (general usage) meaning is specifically to call out at the time of sacrificing. The urfi meaning is intended here.

The literal meaning of Salaah is dua absolutely, but it is generally used to mean Namaaz. Thus, we take the ayat "Establish your Salaah" as an order to read Namaaz, not make dua. Commentating on the verse, Imam Fakhruddin Raazi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ writes, "Ihlaal means to raise the voice (callout). This is its meaning according to the dictionary. Thereafter, it has been used in relation to a Muhrim (one in the ihram of lIajj)." 19.14 - Tafseer Kabeer

The marginal notes on Tafseer Baidaawi by Shuhaab states under this ayat, "In other words, he has been called out. This is the literal meaning of 'Uhilaa'. After that, it is used to mean the animal that has been sacrificed on the name of someone besides Allahعزوجل " 19.15

If the literal meaning Ihlaal is taken here, it will necessitate certain ills,

1. This Tafseer (Commentary of the Holy Quran) will be contrary to the rulings and elucidations of the Sahaaba and the Consensus of the Mufassireen. The opinions of the Mufassireen have already been presented in the first chapter. We now present the rulings and statements of the Sahaaba. Tafseer Durre-Mansoor states under this ayat, “اخرج ابن المنذر عن ابن عباس فی قولہ تعالی و ما اھل الایۃ قال ذبح و اخرج ابن حمائر عن ابن عباس و ما اھل یعنی ما اھل للطواغیت و اخرج ابن ابی حاتم عن مجاھد و ما اھل قال ما ذبح لغیر اللہ و اخرج ابن حاتم عن ابی العالیۃ و ما اھل یقول ما ذکر علیہ اسم غیر اللہ”. Tafseer Mazhari

We come to know that according to the decision of the Sahaaba and Taba'een, the ayat refers to sacrificing on the name of someone besides Allahعزوجل .

2. The meaning you adopt goes against the Holy Quran itself. It states, "Allahعزوجل has not adopted Baheera, Saaiba, Waseelab and Haam; but the Kaafirs assert lies towards Allahعزوجل 19.16 - Surah Maida. Verse 103

These four animals (Baheera, etc.) used to be left free by the Kuffaar of the Arabian Peninsula on the names of idols, and they used to deem them to be Haraam. The Quran, however, refuted them being Haraam despite being taken in the names of idols during their lifetimes. It also ordered that these animals may be consumed.

Under the ayat, “ما جعل اللہ من بحیرۃ الخ” 19.19 Tafseer Fat'hul-Bayaan states, ''This ayat aims to reject the impermissibility of those animals which the Kuffaar used to deem Haraam (i.e. Baheera, etc). The animals are not Haraam due to being regarded by Kaafirs as so." 19.20

Imam Nawawi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ writes the same in his Sharah on Muslim, Kitaabul-Jannah, Baabus-Sifatilati Yurafoo bihaa fid-Dunya,

This establishes that the bull or cow raised on the name of idols does not become Haraam. Thus, if a Muslim slaughters it while taking Allah’s عزوجل name, it becomes Halaal. Naturally. It is prohibited if the animal is in the ownership of another individual.

Allahعزوجل also states, "The Kuffaar said, 'These animals and farms are forbidden. No one will eat these things except those who we wish through our thought 19.21 _ Surah Anaam, Verse 138

And, "The Kuffaar said, "Whatever is in the stomach of these animals is specifically for our deceased and Haraam on our women," 19.22 - Surah Anaam, Verse 139

These were the farms and animals that were dedicated (waqf) to the names of idols.

The Kuffaar used to enforce severe restrictions on the permissibility of these things, but the Holy Quran refuted them. So, when animals that have been left free on the names of idols do not become Haraam, how does the animal that was brought up with the intention of slaughtering it for the Fatiha of the Friends of Allahعزوجل become Haraam?

3. The meaning you ascribe to 'Uh1iha' is also contrary to the rulings of the Jurists. Refer to the previous chapter wherein the verdicts of Alamghiri and Tafseeraat-e-Ahmadia are quoted.

4. Adopting this meaning also goes against rational thinking. because if the literal meaning of 'Uhilaa' (i.e. emplacing the name of someone besides Allahعزوجل on an animal during its lifetime or at the time of slaughtering) causes it to become Haraam, it impels other things besides these animals which are asserted to someone other than Allahعزوجل a to also become Haraam, as the Holy Quran states, "Eve'l.thing that is called out on the name of someone other than Allahعزوجل 19. 3

There is no restriction on animals in the word 'Maa'(Everything). So, irrespective of whether it is made with the intention of worship (Taqarrub) or anything else, prohibition must be leveled unconditionally. Thus: the sheep of laid, the buffalo of Amr, my house, the well of Umme Sa'ad رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, the Madrassah of Deoband, the book of Imam Bukhari etc. all become forbidden and their usage Haraam because they have now been related to someone besides Allahعزوجل! Friend, sometimes association to other than Allahعزوجل causes an increase in the value of the object (e.g. the handwritten Quran of Huzoor Ghause Paak e, etc). In short, this meaning of 'Uhilaa' is incorrect in both academic proofs and rationality.