The Sacrificial Animal

1) Permissible Animals

1. The minimum sacrificial animal is a ewe.

2. [The sacrificial animal] is of three types: camel, cow and sheep.

3. A thaniyy, or better, of [any of] these suffices, except for the sheep, of which a jadha` suffices.

4. [The following are] not permissible as sacrificial animals:

• [An animal] with severed ears, or the major part severed,

• An animal] with a severed tail, arm or leg,

• An animal] whose eyesight is gone,

• An emaciated animal,

• A lame animal, such as cannot walk to the place of sacrifice.

5. A ewe is permissible for everything, except in two cases:

• One who performed the Tawaf of Visiting with janabah, and

• One who had sexual intercourse after the Standing at `Arafah In these two cases, only a she-camel suffices.

6. A she-camel and cow each suffice for seven [people], if each one of the partners intends devotion. So, if one of them intended [only to obtain] meat through his share, it does not suffice the remaining [six].

2) Benefitting from Sacrificial Animals

1. It is permissible to eat from the meat of the sacrificial animals of supererogatory, tamattu` and qiran. It is not permissible to eat from the remaining [types of] sacrificial animals.

2. One should give its covering and halter in charity; one should not pay the butcher’s fee from it.

3. One who sends a camel, and then is forced to ride it, rides it, but if one can do without that, [then] one does not ride it.

4. If it has milk, one does not milk it. One sprinkles cold water on it udders so that the milk ceases.

3) Preparation and Slaughter

1. It is not permissible to slaughter supererogatory, tamattu` or qiran sacrificial animals [at any time] except on the Day of Immolation. It is permissible to slaughter the remaining [types of] sacrificial animals at any time one wishes.

2. It is not permissible to slaughter sacrificial animals [anywhere] except in the Haram.

3. It is permissible to give it in charity to the destitute of the Haram and others.

4. It is not obligatory to take the sacrificial animals to `Arafah.

5. Supererogatory, tamattu` and qiran sacrificial animals are garlanded, but the sacrifical blood of ihsar and the sacrificial blood of transgressions are not garlanded.

6. The best for camels is to pierce the base of their necks (nahr), while for cows and sheep [the best] is to slaughter them.

7. The most appropriate is that a person take care of the [animals slaughter himself, if he knows how to.

4) Replacement

1. One who sends a sacrificial animal, which then dies:

2. If it is afflicted with a severe defect, one sets another in its place, and does as one wishes with the defective one.

3. If a she-camel dies on the way: