Attending the slaughtering of Ud-hiyah and practicing some Bid`ahs

Q: We have some people, particularly old people who do the following acts on `Eid-ul-Adha (the Festival of the Sacrifice): They bring the Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) and stand around it as a whole family and they are the household members. Before beginning to slaughter, the man reads Al-Fatihah (Opening Chapter of the Qur'an), the verse of Al-Kursy (Allah’s Chair), Al-Ma'awizitin (Surah Al-Falaq no.113 and Surah An-Nas no.114) and Surah Al-Ikhlas (no.112) with reciting Du`a'-ul-Istiftah (opening supplication when starting the Prayer) like the saying: Wajjahtu Wajhi lillahi rabi al-`alamin...Etc (I directed my face towards the Lord of the worlds...Etc. He puts his hand over the back of the animal to be slaughtered and stretches it from the neck up to the end of the back and then slaughters it after this action. Some of these people, if they do not attend the process of slaughtering the Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims), they slaughter another one, and these are the people of the household. They claim that they should attend the process of slaughtering. Therefore, (Part No. 10; Page No. 441) I beg Allah and Your Eminence to explain to them the proper way for the person who is to do so. This is in order to free their conviction In sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills). We hope that your Fatwa will be given soon, if you can, because such actions will take place soon.

A: Your actions of standing around the Ud-hiyah while slaughtering it, reading the verse of Al-Kursy and the mentioned above Surahs, and the conviction that he who does not attend will not share the Thawab (reward from Allah) of the Ud-hiyah and has to slaughter another Ud-hiyah, all of these have no basis in Shari`ah (Islamic law) and are the actions of a Mubtadi` (one who introduces innovations in religion). You have to avoid such actions and draw attention to the fact that they are not permissible. The reward of an Ud-hiyah, if it was donated, will include each person who intended to share in it, even if he did not attend, according to the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. If the Ud-hiyah was a will, it should be slaughtered on behalf of the one for whom it was made in the will.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.