By: Imran Ayoob Lahori
Hazrat Miswar bin Makhramah (رضي الله عنه) and Marwan reported:
The Prophet ﷺ set out from Madinah with about one thousand companions for Hajj. When he reached Dhu’l-Hulaifah:
قلد النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم الهدى وأشعره
“The Prophet ﷺ put a collar on the sacrificial animal and performed Isha‘ar on it.”
Then he entered the state of ihram for ‘Umrah.
References: [Bukhari: 1694, Kitab al-Hajj: Bab Man Ash‘ara wa Qallada; Ahmad: 4/323; Abu Dawood: 2765]
She also narrated the practice of putting collars and performing Isha‘ar on sacrificial animals.
References: [Bukhari: 1696; Muslim: 2321; Abu Dawood: 1757; Tirmidhi: 908; Ibn Majah: 3098; Humaydi: 209; Ahmad: 6/78; Abu Ya‘la: 4659]
Hazrat Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed Zuhr at Dhu’l-Hulaifah, then brought his sacrificial she-camel. He pierced the right side of its hump with a spear, causing blood to flow, thus marking it as a sacrificial animal. He cleaned the blood and placed a collar made from two sandals around its neck.
References: [Muslim: 1243, Kitab al-Hajj: Bab Taqleed al-Hady wa Ish‘aarihi; Ahmad: 1/216; Abu Dawood: 1752; Nasai: 5/170]
1 – The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ
Hazrat Miswar bin Makhramah (رضي الله عنه) and Marwan reported:
The Prophet ﷺ set out from Madinah with about one thousand companions for Hajj. When he reached Dhu’l-Hulaifah:
قلد النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم الهدى وأشعره
“The Prophet ﷺ put a collar on the sacrificial animal and performed Isha‘ar on it.”
Then he entered the state of ihram for ‘Umrah.
References: [Bukhari: 1694, Kitab al-Hajj: Bab Man Ash‘ara wa Qallada; Ahmad: 4/323; Abu Dawood: 2765]
2 – Report from ‘A’ishah (رضي الله عنها)
She also narrated the practice of putting collars and performing Isha‘ar on sacrificial animals.
References: [Bukhari: 1696; Muslim: 2321; Abu Dawood: 1757; Tirmidhi: 908; Ibn Majah: 3098; Humaydi: 209; Ahmad: 6/78; Abu Ya‘la: 4659]
3 – Method of Isha‘ar
Hazrat Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed Zuhr at Dhu’l-Hulaifah, then brought his sacrificial she-camel. He pierced the right side of its hump with a spear, causing blood to flow, thus marking it as a sacrificial animal. He cleaned the blood and placed a collar made from two sandals around its neck.
References: [Muslim: 1243, Kitab al-Hajj: Bab Taqleed al-Hady wa Ish‘aarihi; Ahmad: 1/216; Abu Dawood: 1752; Nasai: 5/170]
Scholarly Opinions
- Majority View: Performing Isha‘ar on sacrificial animals is legislated (mashrū‘).
- Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله): Considered it disliked (makrūh) as it resembles mutilation (muthlah).
References: [Sharh al-Muhadhdhab: 8/321; Al-Umm: 2/337; Al-Mughni: 5/455; Al-Insaaf: 4/88; Hidayat al-Salik: 1/314; Al-Asl: 2/510; Al-Mabsut: 4/138; Al-Kafi: p. 162; Nayl al-Awtar: 3/458] - Preferred Opinion (Rājih):
Isha‘ar is established through authentic ahadith; hence, it is a Sunnah act. All interpretations rejecting it are invalid.
- Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله): Affirmed its legitimacy. [A‘lam al-Muwaqqi‘in: 2/354]
- Ibn Qudamah (رحمه الله): Stated that performing Isha‘ar on camels and cows is Sunnah. [Al-Mughni: 5/455]
