This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Farooq Rafi Sahib's book Qurbani, Aqiqah, and Ashra Zil-Hijjah.
Details of Sacrificial Animals:
It is a condition for sacrifice that the animal must be from the category of large livestock (camel, cow, sheep, goat). Sacrificing any other species is not permissible according to the Book and Sunnah. The evidences are as follows:
① Regarding sacrifice, Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِّيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ﴾
"And We have appointed for every nation a sacrifice, that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals."
Reference: Surah Al-Hajj: 34
② In another place, it is stated:
﴿لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ﴾
"That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals."
Reference: Surah Al-Hajj: 28
The above verses mention specific animals for sacrifice (large livestock). The explanation of which livestock are meant by large livestock is given elsewhere in the Qur'an, that the intended livestock are camels, cows, sheep, and goats:
The Divine statement is:
﴿وَمِنَ الْأَنْعَامِ حَمُولَةً وَفَرْشًا ۚ كُلُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَزْوَاجٍ ۖ مِّنَ الضَّأْنِ اثْنَيْنِ وَمِنَ الْمَعْزِ اثْنَيْنِ ۗ قُلْ آلذَّكَرَيْنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ أَمَّا اشْتَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْحَامُ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۖ نَبِّئُونِي بِعِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ وَمِنَ الْإِبِلِ اثْنَيْنِ وَمِنَ الْبَقَرِ اثْنَيْنِ﴾
"And of the grazing livestock are carriers [of burdens] and those [too] small. Eat of what Allah has provided for you and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. [There are] eight kinds; of the sheep, two and of the goats, two. Say, 'Is it the two males He has forbidden or the two females, or that which the wombs of the two females contain? Inform me with knowledge, if you should be truthful.' And of the camels, two and of the cattle, two. Say, 'Is it the two males He has forbidden or the two females? Or has He made you unaware of that which is within the wombs of the two females?'"
Reference: Surah Al-An'am: 142-144
Tafseer:
This verse is evidence that the term Bhīmat al-An‘ām applies only to the four types of livestock: camel, cow, sheep, and goat.
① Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
وأما النعم، فإنها عند العرب اسم للإبل والبقر والغنم خاصة
"انعام is the plural of نعم, and among the Arabs, an‘ām specifically refers to camels, cows, and sheep and goats."
Reference: Tafsir al-Tabari 9/457
② Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
"Bhīmat al-An‘ām means camels, cows, and sheep and goats, and this is also the view of Hasan al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, and Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him."
Reference: Tafsir Ibn Kathir 2/8
③ Imam al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him, explains Surah Al-Hajj, verse (28):
والأنعام هنا الإبل، والبقر والغنم، وبهيمة الأنعام هي الأنعام
"Here, an‘ām refers to camels, cows, and sheep and goats, and Bhīmat al-An‘ām and an‘ām are synonymous terms."
Reference: Tafsir al-Qurtubi 12/44
④ Shawkani, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in his explanation of Surah Al-Hajj, verse (28):
"Bhīmat al-An‘ām means camels, cows, and sheep and goats, and Bhīmat al-An‘ām refers to an‘ām."
Reference: Fath al-Qadeer 5/115
Then in the tafsir of Surah Al-Hajj, verse 34: __ARABIC_7, it is stated:
ARABIC_8__
"This verse indicates that sacrifice is only for an‘ām — camels, cows, and sheep and goats — and no other animal is valid for sacrifice."
Reference: Fath al-Qadeer 5/115
⑤ Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan states:
"The restriction to an‘ām for sacrifice is because sacrifice of any other animal is not valid, even though its meat is lawful."
Reference: Tarjuman al-Qur’an 741
⑥ وإنما خص بهيمة الأنعام، لأنها المشروعة فى القرب
"The mention of Bhīmat al-An‘ām specifically for sacrifice is because only the sacrifice of Bhīmat al-An‘ām is permissible."
Reference: Zad al-Maseer 4/383
⑦ Ibn Qudamah Hanbali, may Allah have mercy on him, writes: "Only Bhīmat al-An‘ām (camels, cows, and sheep and goats) suffice for sacrifice, and the proof is this verse:
﴿لِّيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ﴾
And Bhīmat al-An‘ām means camels, cows, and sheep and goats."
Reference: Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah, Al-Sharh al-Kabeer: 11/100
⑧ Sayyid Sabiq, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
ولا تكون إلا من الإبل والبقر والغنم ولا تجزئ من غير هذه الثلاثة، يقول الله سبحانه: ليذكروا اسم الله على ما رزقهم من بهيمة الأنعام
"Sacrifice is only valid for camels, cows, and sheep and goats, and no other animal of different species suffices for sacrifice, because Allah, Glorified and Exalted, says: 'So that they may mention the name of Allah over the livestock He has given them.'"
Reference: Fiqh al-Sunnah 2/34
From the above verses and the statements of the mufassirun, it is as clear as daylight that the sacrifice of only these four animals (camel, cow, sheep, and goat) is permissible, and the sacrifice of any other lawful animal is not accepted. Therefore, for sacrifice, one should select an animal from these four types of livestock. Also, the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, sacrificed only these animals (camel, cow, sheep, and goat).
Hence, the Quran and Sunnah, the practice of the Companions, and the opinions of the mufassirun are clear evidence that only the sacrifice of these animals is permissible, and there is no proof in the Quran and Sunnah for the permissibility of sacrificing any other animal besides these four types. Therefore, out of caution and as the stronger position, it is best not to sacrifice any animal other than these.
