Clarification of Doubts and Arguments Regarding the Sacrifice of Buffalo

Written by: Inayatullah Madani (Hafizahullah)

Addressing Common Doubts and Objections Related to Buffalo Sacrifice​

Many objections and doubts are raised by those who consider buffalo sacrifice impermissible. These objections, some scholarly and others public, create confusion for many. Below, we address key objections to clarify the issue comprehensively.

Section 1: Scholarly Objections​

First Objection: (Absence of Explicit Mention in Texts)​

Objection:
Buffalo sacrifice is impermissible because there is no explicit reference to buffalo in the Quran or Hadith. In matters of dispute, we are commanded to refer to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, but no mention of buffalo is found.

Clarification:

1. The term "buffalo" is not explicitly mentioned in the texts, but the term "al-Baqr" (cattle) is clearly stated, and there is a consensus among scholars that buffalo is a non-Arabic breed of cattle. Hence, the mention of buffalo is implied through its inclusion in the general category of cattle.
2. Understanding the Quran and Hadith requires a proper grasp of the Arabic language. Scholars of language, Tafsir, Hadith, and Fiqh have clarified that "al-Baqr" includes all breeds of cattle, whether Arab or non-Arab, including buffalo.
3. The understanding of the early generations of the Ummah is essential in interpreting Islamic texts. When buffalo became known to the Ummah, scholars unanimously categorized it as a type of cattle and applied the same rulings as those for cows regarding Zakat and sacrifice.
4. The Quran and Sunnah do not need to explicitly mention every specific type or breed of an animal. Instead, the comprehensive and complete nature of Islamic law covers general principles, and "al-Baqr" encompasses all its breeds and species globally.

Second Objection: (Linguistic Argument)​

Objection:
Since buffalo is not mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah, relying on Arabic linguistic definitions to justify its inclusion in sacrifice is insufficient. Language alone cannot be a basis for a Shari‘ah ruling.

Clarification:

1. The permissibility of buffalo sacrifice is not solely based on linguistic evidence. Instead, linguistic analysis clarifies that buffalo is a type of cattle ("al-Baqr"), and scholars of Tafsir, Hadith, and Fiqh have supported this understanding, leading to a consensus on the matter.
2. Arabic language plays a significant role in understanding the Shari‘ah. The words of the Quran and Hadith must be understood according to their meanings in the Arabic language, as demonstrated by scholars such as Ibn Kathir and Ibn Taymiyyah.

Third Objection: (Buffalo and Cattle Differences in Legal Oaths)​

Objection:
In Fiqh, if someone takes an oath not to eat beef and then eats buffalo meat, their oath is not broken. This implies a fundamental difference between buffalo and cattle.

Clarification:

1. The issue of legal oaths is based on local customs and linguistic conventions, not on the intrinsic nature of the animals. Therefore, the lack of oath violation in this context does not negate the fundamental classification of buffalo as a type of cattle.
2. Many scholars, including those within the Hanafi and Shafi‘i schools, have clarified that despite such rulings in oaths, buffalo and cattle share the same legal rulings for Zakat and sacrifice.

Fourth Objection: (Consensus and Evidence)​

Objection:
Claiming consensus on buffalo as a type of cattle is incorrect. There is no such consensus, and the matter remains disputed.

Clarification:

1. There is scholarly consensus on the legal equivalence of buffalo and cattle in matters of Zakat and sacrifice. This consensus is not based on linguistic considerations alone but on the collective understanding of scholars of Tafsir, Hadith, and Fiqh throughout Islamic history.
2. Prominent scholars such as Imam Malik, Imam Shafi‘i, and others have explicitly ruled that buffaloes share the same legal status as cattle.

Section 2: Public Doubts​

First Doubt: (Increasing the Number of Sacrificial Animals)​

Doubt:
The Quran specifies eight pairs of sacrificial animals (four species), and including buffalo would increase this number, contradicting the Quran.

Clarification:

1. The "eight pairs" mentioned in the Quran refer to general species (cattle, sheep, goats, camels), and their various breeds and types fall under these categories. Thus, including buffalo does not increase the number of sacrificial animals but rather falls within the category of cattle.
2. Scholars of Tafsir and Hadith, including classical scholars like Ibn Kathir, have consistently treated buffalo as a subset of cattle without considering it an addition to the specified animals.

Second Doubt: (Differences in Appearance and Behavior)​

Doubt:
Buffaloes differ significantly from cows in appearance, color, and behavior (e.g., buffaloes thrive in water, unlike cows), so they cannot be considered the same species.

Clarification:

1. Differences in physical appearance and behavior do not change the legal classification of an animal.
2. Similar differences exist among other animals, such as goats and sheep, yet they share the same legal rulings for sacrifice. Scholars have emphasized that buffaloes are legally equivalent to cattle regardless of such differences.

Third Doubt: (Lack of Evidence from the Time of the Prophet ﷺ)​

Doubt:
The Prophet ﷺ and his companions did not sacrifice buffaloes, so it is not permissible.

Clarification:

1. The absence of buffalo sacrifice during the Prophet’s ﷺ time is due to the geographical and environmental context, as buffaloes were not present in the Arabian Peninsula at that time.
2. Islamic rulings are based on general principles derived from the Quran and Hadith, not solely on the actions of the Prophet ﷺ. The principle that buffaloes share the same legal status as cattle suffices to establish their permissibility for sacrifice.

Conclusion​

The objections and doubts regarding buffalo sacrifice are adequately addressed by linguistic, legal, and scholarly evidence. The weight of evidence from the Quran, Sunnah, and scholarly consensus supports the permissibility of buffalo sacrifice, as buffaloes are legally treated as a type of cattle. Thus, excluding buffalo from sacrifice lacks solid grounds, and the correct view, supported by the majority of scholars, is that buffalo sacrifice is permissible.

Wallahu A‘lam (And Allah knows best).