Slaughtering animals at a certain time to remove affliction

Q 2: It is a custom in our district that in August or September every year, some people from our village gather in the Masjid (mosque) to slaughter a bull or a sheep and distribute the meat to houses to prepare food. When the people eat, they supplicate to Allah (Exalted be He) not to inflict them (Part No. 2; Page No. 301) with diseases. They give Sadaqah (voluntary charity) and say that it is for the sake of good health. They believe if they do so, Allah (Exalted be He) will ward off misfortunes. What is the ruling on eating this food? What is the ruling on those who believe this?

A: This slaughtering is a Bid`ah (innovation in religion) and this belief is false and not permissible because it has no origin in religion. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Anyone who does an action which is not stated in this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected. He (peace be upon him) also said: "Beware of novelties, for every novelty is a Bid`ah, and every Bid`ah is delusion." May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.