Conditions for Offering a Sacrifice?

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If a person asks something from Allah and openly declares that they will offer a sacrifice to Allah if their wish is fulfilled, this sacrifice becomes obligatory. Such a sacrifice, which becomes obligatory in this manner, is called an adak sacrifice.

What Is Sacrifice?

The word "sacrifice" is derived from the word "qurb," which means "near, to be near, to approach" in the dictionary. In Islamic literature, it refers to small or large animals slaughtered to approach Allah. According to the Hanafi school of thought, sacrificing animals is obligatory. If a person has the means, they can sacrifice a small or large animal during Eid al-Adha. According to our religion, sacrificing animals as adak, aqiqa, gratitude, or voluntary sacrifices other than Eid al-Adha is also a way of approaching Allah.

What Is an Adak Sacrifice?

If a person asks something from Allah and openly declares that they will offer a sacrifice to Allah if their wish is fulfilled, this sacrifice becomes obligatory. Such a sacrifice, which becomes obligatory in this manner, is called an adak sacrifice. Muslims offer adak sacrifices with the aim of showing submission to Allah and drawing closer to Him when their wishes are fulfilled. Adak sacrifice is the servant's gratitude to Allah. Adak sacrifice also includes sharing the joy and happiness of the realization of one's wish by distributing the sacrifice meat with others. Offering an adak sacrifice brings joy to people and draws closer to Allah simultaneously. Scholars agree that there is no objection to making an adak for the sake of gaining Allah's pleasure without expecting any worldly benefits. However, making an adak with the intention of changing Allah's decree or for worldly purposes under certain conditions is not considered correct.

Conditions for an Adak Sacrifice

The person who will sacrifice the adak must declare and intend to sacrifice if their wish is fulfilled. For the adak to be valid, the person sacrificing it must be a Muslim, mentally sound, and have reached puberty. The animal to be sacrificed as an adak must meet the conditions of a sacrificial animal and be slaughtered according to Islamic requirements. It is not correct to sacrifice for a person or property. The adak should be made to thank Allah. The person who promises to sacrifice an adak must sacrifice it; an adak cannot be replaced with money. The adak offered must be an obligation or recommended act in our religion. For example, you can dedicate sacrificing, praying, fasting, or giving alms, but reading Mevlid (celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad) or visiting the sick is not considered an adak. Adak should not be made for sinful or forbidden wishes. Poultry, such as chickens or roosters, cannot be sacrificed as adak. It is not permissible for the person who offered the adak to eat from its meat. Additionally, it is not permissible for their spouse, mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather to eat from it. Adak cannot be offered for someone else's property. If a person offers more than they possess, only what they have is valid. The person's financial means should be sufficient to sacrifice an adak. The subject of the adak should not be obligations or recommended acts of worship that the person is already obliged to perform under normal circumstances.