A Jurisprudential Survey onto the Lawfulness of Sacrifice of the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitāb); with an emphasis on the Holy Quran

There is no doubt that one of the major issues of concern in our modern society is the question of Sacrifices of the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitāb) which has many practical and scientific results. Of course, here we mean those sacrifices slaughtered by the People of the Book in accordance with the Islamic conditions. Because today, travel and communication and transactions have more breadth and diversity, this controversy has gained more attention. The author of this paper with a deep investigation in opinions and remarks of Fuqaha, both past and contemporary Islamic scholars, concluded that there is no consensus on the prohibition of Ahl al-Kitāb sacrifices. The main reason is the existence of some verses (Ayat) of the Holy Quran which the most significant one is Surat Al-Anam (verse 121) and Al-Maidah (verse 5) through which formerly implies the necessity for naming and there is no implication on the condition of Islam in the sacrificer and the latter verse refers to the lawfulness of food (Taam) of Ahl al-Kitāb including their sacrifices. In addition to these verses, many other hadiths also entered in these discussions which are taken into consideration. As well as numerous evidences on this lawfulness have been adduced that cause this narration enjoys dignity and legitimacy. It should be noted in this discussion that so much is certain that People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitāb) is an Islamic term referring to Jews, Christians, and sometimes applied to members of other religions such as Zoroastrians in the view of some Fuqaha.