What does Islam exclusively say about human sacrifice?

Question

What does Islam exclusively say about human sacrifice? By exclusively, I mean excluding what is already said in Judaism and Christianity.

So, I guess anything newly added to the texts during or after Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Answer 1

Before Muhammad (p.b.u.h)

There is evidence that some pagan Arabs killed their own children.

A tradition says that Abd al-Muttalib, grandfather of Muhammad (p.b.u.h), wowed to sacrifice a child if he had 10 sons but when he had ten sons, he did not want to keep his wow, so he sacrificed camels instead (summary can be read on the cited Wikipedia article). This illustrates that killing children was not only an act of desperation committed by people who feared not to be able to nourish their children but human sacrifice was not yet eradicated before Muhammad (p.b.u.h).

The Message of the Quran

There are two passages in the Quran that forbid this:

Al-Isra, 17:31-33

And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them, and for you. Killing them is a grave sin. And do not come near adultery. It is immoral, and an evil way. And do not kill the soul which God has made sacred, except in the course of justice. If someone is killed unjustly, We have given his next of kin certain authority. But he should not be excessive in killing, for he will be supported.

Al-Anam 6:140

Lost are those who kill their children foolishly, with no basis in knowledge, and forbid what God has provided for them—innovations about God. They have gone astray. They are not guided.

Rulings on killing

In Islam, it is forbidden to kill a person except for prescribed penalty and in a war against an agression of the enimies of Islam (jihad war). It is so clear to all Mulsim that God does not want a ritual sacrifice of a human that it need not be mentioned in scholarly fiqh. Even animal sacrifice is limited to Eid ul-Adha only.

Rulings on self-sacrifice

Islam allows (welcomes) that a person sacrifices his own life in a jihad war.

It is also well-received if someone endagers and finally sacrifices his life trying to save the lives of others.

It is also correct to confess to ask for penalty before a court if someone has committed a capital sin.

In all other cases, it is forbidden (haram) to put an end to ones own life (commit suicide). Said this, a ritual self-sacrifice is forbidden, too.

Sacrifice of Non-Muslims

Some terrorists acting in the name of Islam are reported to have performed a kind of ceremonial killing of Non-Muslims (I am not sure whether the linked is reliable, and the video references are no longer available).

All Orthodox as well as educated Salfiya scholars deny the right to kill Non-Muslim except during a jihad war (a war of Non-Muslims waged against Muslims). A ceremonial killing of disbelievers is a transgression of the Sharia, and forbidden (haram) in Islam.