Chapter 14: The Hediy of the Cow (Sacrificing a Cow in Hajj)
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sacrificed one cow for the family of Muhammad during the Farewell Pilgrimage.
Abu Hurayrah reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed a cow jointly for his wives who performed the Umrah pilgrimage (of enjoyment).
**Explanation:**
At the time of the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet ﷺ had nine wives, all intending to perform the Hajj of enjoyment. According to a narration from Aisha related by Nasa’i, he sacrificed an animal for each member of his family. In the honorable hadith narrated from Aisha, it is reported that he sacrificed an animal for all his wives during the Farewell Pilgrimage. Given that he had nine wives at that time, how could one animal have been sacrificed for them all? This hadith may serve as evidence for Ishaq and those who say that a single camel can be sacrificed on behalf of ten people, and according to the view of Ahmad bin Hanbal.
Ibn al-Hazm states: "This partnership occurred among eight of the Prophet ﷺ's family members, because Aisha performed the Qiran pilgrimage. Then, when it was nightfall at Mina, she said, ‘Allah has accepted our Hajj. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me with my brother, Abdurrahman ibn Abu Bakr, and Abdurrahman took me on his riding animal to Tan’im, which is closest to the boundary of Ihram. I began reciting the talbiyah with the intention of Umrah. May Allah accept our Hajj and Umrah (our Qiran pilgrimage). There is no sacrifice, charity, or fasting in Qiran.’”
Aisha's statement that there is no sacrifice in Qiran has been cited as evidence against it. According to us, a thank-offering sacrifice is obligatory even in Qiran. It is said that the words "There is no sacrifice in Qiran" are Hisham bin Urwa’s own words inserted into the hadith. (Avn al-Mabud, Vol. 5) As clearly understood from the hadiths, the Prophet ﷺ's wives intended to perform Umrah of enjoyment. Aisha was menstruating at Saraf, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered her to leave the Umrah and for her Ihram to be that of Ifraad Hajj.
Aisha performed Ifraad Hajj. After the Hajj was completed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded her to perform the Umrah. He ordered his brother Abdurrahman to take her to Tan’im and have her perform the Umrah. Aisha performed the Umrah from Tan’im. This Umrah was a replacement for the Umrah she had abandoned due to menstruation.
The sacrifice that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed for Aisha was a penalty sacrifice for the Umrah she had abandoned.
The other pure wives sacrificed as a thank-offering, because they intended to perform Umrah of enjoyment. This is the view of the Hanafi scholars. According to the Shafi’is; Aisha abandoned her Umrah when she was menstruating. The acts of Umrah were mixed with the acts of Hajj, and she performed Qiran Hajj. Therefore, after Aisha completed her Hajj rites, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “O Aisha, your Tawaf is sufficient for both your Hajj and your Umrah.” The sacrifice that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed for Aisha was a thank-offering sacrifice. (Bazd al-Majhud, vol. 8, pp. 341-342)