Asalamu Alaikum, a friend of mine told me on phone that He went to one Islamic scholar for prayer and it happened that I was asked to also come for a special prayer, inwhich I'm going to slaughter a Black Goat for Sadakat at the end of the Prayer. However, I refused to accept the invitation because I considered it as Bidiah against Islam. Therefore, my friend said that I do not trust him and I'm operating double mind with him. Perhaps, that may put an end to our friendship. Finally, I want to know the take of Islam on this matter. Mah Salam.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Offering an animal sacrifice in charity should not be restricted to black goats. In fact, specifying the black color for the animal sacrifice is done by magicians and charlatans who dedicate their animal sacrifices to the devils in order to draw near to them, and they do not offer them in charity.

There is no prescribed prayer or supplication in Islam during which a black goat is slaughtered; this is a mere Bid‘ah (religious innovation).

It is impermissible for a Muslim to accept the invitation of someone who is committing such religious innovations or to eat the animal sacrifice he slaughters because it is dedicated to something other than Allaah The Exalted. Allaah says (what means): {He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allaah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allaah is Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 2:173]

As-Sa‘di commented on this verse, saying, " {… and that which has been dedicated to other than Allaah} refers to animals slaughtered for other than Allaah, such as animal sacrifices dedicated to idols of stone and graves and the like."

The Standing Committee for Scholarly Research and Fataawa was asked about a woman who is accustomed to slaughtering a black male goat to get rid of some diseases. They replied,

"Slaughtering an animal sacrifice based on such a belief along with specifying a certain color for the slaughtered animal at a specific time is not permissible. Believing that such an act wards off or cures diseases is a corrupt belief. If the slaughtered animal is dedicated to the Jinn or Satan, this will be an act of major Shirk (associating partners with Allaah). Therefore, you should advise this woman or any other person acting the same way to abandon that and turn back to Allaah in repentance for doing it, for Allaah is the only one Who relieves distress and cures disease."

In any case, we say that this man should be gently and tenderly advised to shun such an act; if he persistently continues to commit this religious innovation, then there is no good in retaining your friendship with him or keeping his company. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Do not accompany except a believer, and do not serve your food except to a pious person." [Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi]

Please refer to Fatwa 18831 about the signs for recognizing magicians and charlatans.

Allaah Knows best.