Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil Kitāb wa Sunnat kī Roshnī meṅ by Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbānī
Which animals are not permissible to offer for Qurbānī (sacrifice)? Please explain clearly with evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
The Prophet ﷺ laid down specific conditions regarding which animals are suitable and unsuitable for sacrifice. The following narrations from the Sunnah provide clear guidance on animals that must not be used for Qurbānī:
Narrated by ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to examine the eyes and ears of the sacrificial animals carefully, and to avoid sacrificing any animal whose ear is:
Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Aḍāḥī, Bāb Mā Yukrahu min al-Aḍāḥī: 1998
Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2804
Sunan al-Nasā’ī: 4377, 4378, 4381
Narrated by al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib رضي الله عنه:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked:
“Which animals should be avoided in sacrifice?”
He ﷺ indicated with his hand and replied:
“There are four types of animals that must not be sacrificed:
① A lame animal whose lameness is clearly visible.
② A one-eyed or cross-eyed animal whose defect is obvious.
③ A sick animal with evident illness.
④ An extremely emaciated animal whose bones contain no marrow.”
al-Muwaṭṭaʾ, Kitāb al-Ḍaḥāyā, Bāb Mā Yunhā ʿanhu min al-Ḍaḥāyā: vol. 2, p. 31, Ḥadīth 1
Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 1997
Sunan al-Nasā’ī: 1375
Ibn Mājah: 3144
The following animals are not permissible for Qurbānī:
Any animal with clearly damaged or cut ears, including:
Any animal with obvious physical defects, such as:
① Clearly lame,
② Visibly one-eyed or cross-eyed,
③ Severely ill,
④ So weak that its bones lack marrow.
Such animals do not meet the standard of excellence required for this great act of worship and are rejected based on the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ
✦ Question:
Which animals are not permissible to offer for Qurbānī (sacrifice)? Please explain clearly with evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
✦ Answer:
The Prophet ﷺ laid down specific conditions regarding which animals are suitable and unsuitable for sacrifice. The following narrations from the Sunnah provide clear guidance on animals that must not be used for Qurbānī:
❖ ① Instruction to Inspect the Animal’s Eyes and Ears
Narrated by ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to examine the eyes and ears of the sacrificial animals carefully, and to avoid sacrificing any animal whose ear is:
- cut off from the top or bottom,
- split lengthwise,
- or has a circular hole in it.”
Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Aḍāḥī, Bāb Mā Yukrahu min al-Aḍāḥī: 1998 Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2804 Sunan al-Nasā’ī: 4377, 4378, 4381❖ ② Four Types of Defective Animals Prohibited in Qurbānī
Narrated by al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib رضي الله عنه:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked:
“Which animals should be avoided in sacrifice?”
He ﷺ indicated with his hand and replied:
“There are four types of animals that must not be sacrificed:
① A lame animal whose lameness is clearly visible.
② A one-eyed or cross-eyed animal whose defect is obvious.
③ A sick animal with evident illness.
④ An extremely emaciated animal whose bones contain no marrow.”
al-Muwaṭṭaʾ, Kitāb al-Ḍaḥāyā, Bāb Mā Yunhā ʿanhu min al-Ḍaḥāyā: vol. 2, p. 31, Ḥadīth 1 Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 1997 Sunan al-Nasā’ī: 1375 Ibn Mājah: 3144
Summary:
The following animals are not permissible for Qurbānī:
Any animal with clearly damaged or cut ears, including:- Split ears,
- Circular holes,
- Upper or lower parts of the ears cut off.
Any animal with obvious physical defects, such as:① Clearly lame,
② Visibly one-eyed or cross-eyed,
③ Severely ill,
④ So weak that its bones lack marrow.
Such animals do not meet the standard of excellence required for this great act of worship and are rejected based on the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ
