V2:1- Ruling on slaughtering and making vows for other than Allāh

1- Ruling on slaughtering and making vows for other than Allāh
Q: What is the opinion of his Eminence Shaykh on the family which dedicates a slaughtered sheep to an Imam on the occasion of having a newborn? They do this in fulfillment of a vow they made. It should be noted that they only slaughter animals on the birth of a male baby. Does this male baby bear any sin because of that? What does he have to do when he grows up?
A: This constitutes an act of major Shirk (associating others with Allāh in His Divinity or worship). The person who is in the habit of doing this act must regret repent to Allāh (Exalted be He), and intend firmly that he will not return to it again. This is an act of major Shirk (associating others with Allāh in His Divinity or worship that takes the Muslim out of Islām). We seek refuge in Allāh from this. Vows are acts of worship which must be directed to Allāh Alone. Thus, the person who is in the habit of doing this must turn to Allāh (Exalted be He) in repentance and be determined as not to do this act again. The newborn does not bear any sin as the act involved is not his own. Allāh (Glorified be He) says: And no bearer of burdens shall bear another's burden Whoever commits this, whether a male or female, should repent from it. They must return to Allāh (Exalted be He), regret doing this act and be determined never to do it again. Allāh (Glorified be He) says: And all of you beg Allāh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful And: O you who believe! Turn to Allāh with sincere repentance! Invoking anyone other than Allāh (Exalted be He) or seeking the help of dead Awliya (pious people), prophets or seeking the help of Jinn or Angels, stars or planets constitutes an act of major Shirk. All these things are considered to be a worship to other than Allāh. Similarly, vowing or slaughtering animals for their sake or for the sake of interceding for him, rescuing him from the Hellfire, curing him, saving those who are absent or the likes are types of major Shirk. Allāh (Glorified be He) says: Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): "Verily, my Salāt (prayer), my sacrifice my living, and my dying are for Allāh, the Lord of the 'Alamīn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). "He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims." Allāh (Glorified be He) also says: Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad ﷺ) Al-Kauthar (a river in Paradise). Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only). For he who hates you (O Muhammad ﷺ), he will be cutoff (from posterity and every good thing in this world and in the Hereafter). And: And whatever you spend for spendings (e.g., in Sadaqah - charity for Allāh's Cause) or whatever vow you make, be sure Allāh knows it all. Making vows to give charity or to offer Salah (Prayer) becomes an obligatory act of worship which must be directed to Allāh Alone. A person who vows to slaughter an animal...