Ruling if the relatives of the

A: The practice you mentioned of slaughtering an animal and inviting people to eat it forty days after someone's death for the purpose of drawing nearer to Allah (Exalted be He) whose mercy and forgiveness is hoped to encompass the deceased, is a rejected Bid`ah (innovation in religion). The Prophet (peace be upon him), the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, the Sahabah (the Prophet's companions) (may Allah be pleased with them) and the prominent scholars never did this. Thus, it is impermissible according to the Ijma` (consensus of scholars). It was authentically narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever does an action which is not in accordance with this matter of ours [Islam], will have it rejected. (Part No. 9; Page No. 108) He (peace be upon him) also said: Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours [Islam] that is not part of it, will have it rejected. There is nothing wrong with giving Sadaqah (voluntary charity) on behalf of the dead whether it is in cash or in-kind but without specifying a time for it.