Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 591
❖ Question:
Which animal is suitable for Qurbānī (sacrifice)?
✿ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
The word “mauzūn” (suitable) can be understood in several aspects:
➊ In Terms of Type or Species of Animal
If by “suitable” we mean the kind or species of animal, then the best and most virtuous is a healthy and fat ram or sheep, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mostly offered rams as his sacrifice.
✿ Ḥadīth:
عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُضَحِّي بِكَبْشَيْنِ، وَأَنَا أُضَحِّي بِكَبْشَيْنِ.
“The Prophet ﷺ used to offer two rams in sacrifice, and I also offer two rams.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Uḍḥiyyah, Vol. 2, p. 833)
Another narration:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رضي الله عنها قَالَتْ: أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِكَبْشٍ أَقْرَنَ يَطَأُ فِي سَوَادٍ، وَيَبْرُكُ فِي سَوَادٍ، وَيَنْظُرُ فِي سَوَادٍ، فَأُتِيَ بِهِ فَضَحَّى.
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded that a black, horned ram be brought — one that walked, sat, and looked in black — and he sacrificed it.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: Bāb Mā Yustaḥabb min al-Ḍaḥāyā, p. 382; also in Muslim 2/156 and al-Nasā’ī 2/197)
✿ Order of Preference:
① Ram or sheep (dumba / meṇḍha)
② Camel
③ Cow
④ Goat
➋ In Terms of Age
If “suitable” refers to the age of the animal, then it must be mature (musanah) — i.e., two-toothed (dūnḍā).
✿ Ḥadīth:
عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَا تَذْبَحُوا إِلَّا مُسِنَّةً، إِلَّا أَنْ يَعْسُرَ عَلَيْكُمْ، فَتَذْبَحُوا جَذَعَةً مِنَ الضَّأْنِ.
“Do not slaughter except a musinnah (mature animal); but if it is difficult to find one, then slaughter a jadhaʿah (young but fat) from the sheep.”
✿ Age Requirements for Qurbānī Animals:
- Camel: Must have completed 5 years and entered the 6th.
- Cow: Must have completed 2 years and entered the 3rd.
- Goat: Must have completed 1 year and entered the 2nd.
Hence, Qurbānī is not valid with a cow, camel, or goat that has not reached the age of dūnḍā.
➌ In Terms of Physical Defects
If by “suitable” we mean free from defects, then such animals are not valid for Qurbānī:
(a) Defects in Ears or Nose:
عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ نُضَحِّيَ بِمُقَابَلَةٍ، أَوْ مُدَابَرَةٍ، أَوْ شَرْقَاءَ، أَوْ خَرْقَاءَ، أَوْ جَدْعَاءَ.
(Sunan al-Nasā’ī, 1/190; Tuhfat al-Aḥwadhī, 2/354)
Explanation:
- Muqābalah: Ear cut from the front.
- Mudābarah: Ear cut from the back.
- Sharqā’: Split ear.
- Kharaqā’: Round hole in the ear.
- Jadʿā’: Nose or ear completely cut off.
(b) Physical Weakness or Disease:
عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ: لَا يُجْزِئُ مِنَ الضَّحَايَا الْعَوْرَاءُ الْبَيِّنُ عَوَرُهَا، وَالْعَرْجَاءُ الْبَيِّنُ عَرَجُهَا، وَالْمَرِيضَةُ الْبَيِّنُ مَرَضُهَا، وَالْعَجْفَاءُ الَّتِي لَا تُنْقِي.
(Narrated by the Five; al-Nasā’ī 2/190)
Not permissible for Qurbānī:
- Clearly blind animal.
- Clearly lame.
- Clearly sick.
- Extremely weak or emaciated animal with no marrow in its bones.
(c) Defects in Horns or Ears:
عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُضَحَّى بِأَعْضَبِ الْقَرْنِ وَالأُذُنِ.
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade sacrificing an animal whose horn or ear is cut off.”
(Tuhfat al-Aḥwadhī 2/257; al-Nasā’ī 2/196)
✿ Additional Note:
- An animal naturally without horns (ajlah) is permissible for Qurbānī according to consensus.
- However, the Shāfiʿī scholars deem it makrūh (disliked).
✅ Summary:
The most suitable animal for Qurbānī is one that:
✿ Is healthy, strong, and well-fed.
✿ Has reached the prescribed age (dūnḍā / musinnah).
✿ Is free from defects in ears, eyes, limbs, and body.
✿ And, in terms of virtue, the ram or sheep is the most preferred among all.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best what is right.
