A wealthy person taking part in a meal given “in Allah's name”

Question

Question: Zayd slaughters a goat and invites wealthy people to a meal. When they are asked whether this is sadaqa, charity or something else, they say: “Just in Allah's name.” What is the meaning of this “in Allah's name”, and what is the ruling on taking part in it? Kindly give a detailed and thorough answer.

Answer

Usually this is done to ward off calamity or to convey reward (isal al-thawab) to someone. If Zayd's aim is also this, then the wealthy should avoid this as well. Feeding friends and loved ones is also a means of pleasing Allah the Exalted; if this is what is intended, then neither the rich nor the poor need to refrain from it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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