SACRIFICE SECTION · 4 – SACRIFICES WHOSE SLAUGHTER IS MORE EXEMPLARY
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) ordered that a ram with horns, black nails, black eyes, and a black belly (with the rest white) be brought. It was brought. Then he sacrificed it.
He said, "O Aisha, bring the knife." Then he said, “Even if I were to sharpen it with stone.” I brought the knife. I sharpened it with stone. He took the knife, seized the ram, laid it down, and slaughtered it.
While slaughtering, he said, "Bismillah. O Lord, accept this from Muhammad, from the family of Muhammad, and from the community of Muhammad." Then he sacrificed it. [526]
**Explanation:**
This honorable hadith is evidence that a sheep can be sacrificed on behalf of a household. Sufyan al-Thawri, Abu Hanifa, and his companions disliked sacrificing one sheep for two people. Malik, ash-Shafi’i, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ishaq, Layth ibn Sa'd, and Auza'i said that a person can sacrifice one sheep on behalf of himself and his family. At-Tahawi stated that a sheep cannot be sacrificed for two people, and that it is not permissible.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) related:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) personally slaughtered seven camels standing, and in Medina he sacrificed two rams, white with black markings predominating. [527]
COMMENTARY
Bukhari narrated only the story of the two rams.
“Emlah” means white overcoming black.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed two rams, horned, the white overcoming the black in color. He placed his right knee on the right side of the sacrificial animals and said, “Bismillah Allahu Akbar,” then slaughtered them. [528]
Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) slaughtered two rams, one white in color whose blackness dominated, and the other horned. When he turned them on their sides (to slaughter), he said, “I have turned my face to Him who created the heavens and the earth, truthfully. I am not of those who associate partners with Allah. My prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds, Who has no partner. Thus I was commanded, and I am one of the Muslims. O Lord! I sacrifice on behalf of Muhammad and his community.” Then he said, “Bismillah Allahu Akbar,” and slaughtered them.
Abū Sā’id (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed a ram with horns, unblemished, its eyes black, its mouth black, its feet black, and the rest of its body white. [530]
COMMENTARY
This hadith and the preceding one serve as evidence that it is permissible to sacrifice livestock, sheep, and goats, including rams and he-goats separated for breeding purposes, as well as those whose ears have been mutilated.