Fatwa ID: 03222

Answered by: Shaykh Umer Khan

Question

Assalamualaikum

Someone sent money for a large animal in India with 7 names in mind.

Can he change those names now?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful 

Answer:

All actions are by intention [al-Bukhari, hadith 1], and the intention for an act must be made before the act of worship begins.

A person's obligation for zakah is not fulfilled at the time of giving the money to an agent (wakeel), rather it is fulfilled when the zakah is actually passed on to those deserving of it [Radd al-Muhtar, 2/270]. Similarly, the obligation of sacrifice is not fulfilled at the time of giving the money to the agent, but at the time of the beginning of the sacrifice itself. Therefore, the names can be changed up to and until the sacrifice has been performed, but not after. However, the people must all be aware and have made proper intention for the sacrifice.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Shaykh Umer Khan

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham