This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Farooq Rafi's book Qurbani, Aqiqa, and Ashra Zil-Hijjah.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sacrificed a speckled-colored or such a ram whose legs, belly, and eyes were black. Therefore, it is a recommended act to sacrifice rams possessing these characteristics. The evidences are as follows:
① Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
ضحى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بكبشين أملحين أقرنين، ذبحهما بيده، وسمى وكبر، ووضع رجله على صفاحهما
“The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) sacrificed two speckled rams with horns. He (peace be upon him) slaughtered both with his own hand and said ‘Bismillah, Allahu Akbar’ at the time of slaughtering, and placed his foot on their sides.”
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter: Saying Takbeer at Slaughter: 5565. Sahih Muslim, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter: Recommendation of Good Sacrifice: 1966. Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Chapters on Sacrifices, Chapter: What has been narrated about sacrificing two rams: 1494. Sunan an-Nasa’i, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter: Sunnah and Jadh’ah: 1492
Benefits:
① Imam Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
ففيه استحباب استحسان لون الأضحية، وقد أجمعوا عليه
"This hadith is evidence that selecting a beautiful animal for sacrifice is recommended, and there is consensus among scholars on this."
Reference: Sharh al-Nawawi: 120/31
② Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, states that from the hadith of the chapter it is deduced that sacrificing an animal that is more beautiful in color and description is permissible.
Reference: Fath al-Bari: 15/10
③ Qadi Shawkani, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
واستدل بأحاديث الباب على استحباب التضحية بالأقرن الأملح
"From the hadiths of the chapter it is deduced that sacrificing a horned, speckled animal is superior."
Reference: Nail al-Awtar: 117/5
② Sacrificing an animal whose legs, belly, and the area around the eyes are black is also recommended. Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, states:
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أمر بكبش أقرن، يطأ فى سواد ويبرك فى سواد، وينظر فى سواد فأتي به ليضحي به
"Undoubtedly, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered a horned ram, which walked in black (meaning its legs were black), sat in black (meaning its belly was black), and looked in black (meaning the area near its eyes was black), then it was brought for slaughter."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter on the Recommendation of Choosing a Good Sacrifice: 1967. Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter on What is Recommended Regarding Sacrifices: 2792. Musnad Ahmad: 78/6. Sahih Ibn Hibban: 5915
Benefits:
① Imam Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
يطأ فى سواد، ويبرك فى سواد، وينظر فى سواد، فمعناه: أن قوائمه وبطنه وما حول عينيه أسود
"The meaning of a ram that walks in blackness, sits in blackness, and looks in blackness is that its legs, its belly, and the area around its eyes were black."
Reference: Sharh al-Nawawi: 120/13
② Shawkani, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
وفيه دليل على أنها تستحب التضحية بما كان على هذه الصفة
"The hadith of the chapter is evidence that the sacrifice of the mentioned animal (whose legs, belly, and parts around the eyes are black) is a recommended act."
Reference: Nail al-Awtar: 126/5
Sacrifice of a white goat:
The sacrifice of a white goat is not superior to that of a black goat, and the narrations regarding this are weak.
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
دم عفراء أحب إلى من دم سوداوين
"I prefer the blood of a white goat in sacrifice over that of black goats."
Reference: Weak: Musnad Ahmad: 417/2 - Mustadrak Hakim: 4/227 - Sunan Bayhaqi 273/0 - Thumamah bin Wa'il bin Husain Abu Thaqal and Rabah bin Abdur Rahman bin Abi Sufyan bin Huwaytab are unknown narrators.
② It is narrated from Sayyida Kabira bint Sufyan (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said to us:
دم عفراء أزكٰي عند الله من دم سوداء
"Before Allah, the blood of a white goat is purer than that of a black goat."
Reference: Weak: Tabarani Kabir: 20532 - Muhammad bin Sulayman bin Masmool is a weak narrator.
③ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) states that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
استوصوا بالمعزى خيرا، فإنها مال رقيق، وهو فى الجنة، وأحب المال إلى الله الضأن، وعليكم بالبياض، فإن الله خلق الجنة بيضاء، فليلبسه أحياؤكم وكفنوا فيه موتاكم، وإن دم الشاة البيضاء أعظم عند الله من دم سوداوين
"Treat goats well, for they are delicate property and they will be in Paradise as well. Also, the most beloved property to Allah is sheep, and you should wear white clothes because Allah has made Paradise white. So your living people should also wear white clothes, and you should shroud your dead in the same color. Moreover, the reward for sacrificing a white goat is greater than that of sacrificing two black goats."
Reference: Fabricated: Tabarani Kabir: 11038 - Al-Da'ifah: 431 - Hamza bin Abi Hamza Jafi is a Nusayri, abandoned, and accused of fabrication.
