Slaughter and Charity in the Name of a River

Question

The people of a certain village slaughter a goat on the bank of a river with the purpose that the river should not damage the land; at the same place they perform a khatm of the Holy Qur’an, cook the meat of the said slaughtered animal right there and, having cooked the food, feed those who performed the khatm — with the purpose that Hazrat Khidr ﵇ be pleased with the said act and that henceforth no damage come to the land. Do those who perform this act remain Muslims?

Answer

Nothing can bring benefit or cause harm without the command of God; the river’s benefiting or harming the land is likewise subject to the command of God. Therefore, slaughtering a goat in the name of the river or for the river while holding the belief that the river, having received the goat, will be pleased and will not harm us; or slaughtering a goat for Hazrat Khidr ﵇ [with…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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