Permissibility of Riding a Sacrificial Animal in Case of Need

By: Imran Ayoob Lahori

1 – Hadith of Anas (رضي الله عنه)​

Hazrat Anas (رضي الله عنه) reported:


The Prophet ﷺ saw a man leading a sacrificial animal and said to him:
"Ride it."
The man replied: “It is a sacrificial animal.”
The Prophet ﷺ again said: "Ride it."
He repeated: “It is a sacrificial animal.”
The Prophet ﷺ, for the third time, said: اركبها – “Ride it.”

References: [Bukhari: 1690, Kitab al-Hajj: Bab Rukub al-Budn; Muslim: 1323; Nasai: 5/176; Tirmidhi: 913; Ibn Majah: 3104; Ahmad: 3/106; Ibn Khuzaymah: 4/188; Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar: 2/161; Bayhaqi: 5/236; Abu Ya‘la: 2869]

2 – Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه)​

A similar narration is reported from Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه).
References: [Bukhari: 1689; Muslim: 1322; Abu Dawood: 1760; Nasai: 5/176; Ibn Majah: 3103; Ibn al-Jarood: 428; Ahmad: 2/254; Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar: 2/160; Bayhaqi: 5/236; Abu Ya‘la: 2307; Sharh al-Sunnah: 4/115]

3 – Hadith of Jabir (رضي الله عنه)​

When asked about riding a sacrificial animal, Hazrat Jabir (رضي الله عنه) said:


I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
"Ride it in a reasonable manner if you are compelled to do so until you find another mount."

References: [Ahmad: 3/317; Muslim: 1324, Kitab al-Hajj: Bab Jawaz Rukub al-Budnah al-Muhdah liman Ihtaja Ilayha; Abu Dawood: 1761; Nasai: 5/277; Ibn al-Jarood: 429; Ibn Khuzaymah: 4/189; Abu Ya‘la: 1815]

Scholarly Views​

• Imam al-Shawkani (رحمه الله):
  These ahadith indicate permissibility of riding a sacrificial animal whether the sacrifice is voluntary or obligatory, as the Prophet ﷺ did not inquire about the type. [Nayl al-Awtar: 3/463]
• Ibn Qudamah (رحمه الله):
  In case of necessity, it is permissible to ride a sacrificial animal. This is also the position of Imam al-Shafi‘i (رحمه الله), Imam Ibn al-Mundhir (رحمه الله), and Ashaab al-Ra’y.
  Imam Ibn al-‘Arabi (رحمه الله) and Imam al-Mahdi (رحمه الله) quoted Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله) as prohibiting it absolutely, but Imam al-Tahawi (رحمه الله) narrated from him its permissibility in case of need.
  References: [Al-Mughni: 5/442; Nayl al-Awtar: 3/463]