Preferable Matters About offering Sacrifice, Permissible and Non-Permissible Matters

foiiowing: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the minimum age required for an offering of sheep. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is al-Jadha‘ (young goat or sheep which is in the second year of its life) of sheep.’ I then asked about goat, and he (the Imam) said, ‘Young goat is not sufficient.’ I then asked why young sheep is sufficient and a young goat is not sufficient? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because al- Jadha’ of sheep is capable of impregnating and that of goat does not have such capability.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about cows and camels in matters of preference for an offering. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the dhawat al-Arham (capable of bearing young) of cattle.’ I then asked about the age. He (the Imam) said, ‘In the case of cows age does not matter for slaughtering as offering, but camels must not be less than two years old and above.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Of cows Tabi‘ and Musin (those of two and three years of age) are the same for slaughtering as offering.’”

“Al-Halabiy has said that narrated to him, the one who had heard from him (the Imam) ‘Alayhi al- Salam, say, ‘You must slaughter as offering a black ram that has horns and if you cannot find a black ram, then find one that has black eyes and mouth.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if an ewe is preferred by him or a goat. He (the Imam) said, ‘A he-goat but an ewe is more preferred than a she-goat.’ I then asked if a castrated one is acceptable for offering. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not acceptable unless no other offering is available.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘A young sheep is acceptable but not a young goat.’ I asked about castrated and ewe. He (the Imam) said, ‘An injured is more preferred than ewe, but if it is a castrated one then an ewe is more preferred.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one buys a weak badanah but finds it to be a fat one it is sufficient. However, if he buys a weak one and finds it to be a lean one, it is not sufficient.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), disliked cuts and holes in the ears, but he did not mind if the hole was on the mark. He (’Amir al-Mu’minin) would say that of badanah that which is two years old is acceptable, of goat that which is two years old and of sheep the young one is acceptable.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘In your land a ram is more preferred than al-Jazur (camel).”’

“This is about a man who buys an offering which is defective such as blindness, and so on. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If he has paid in cash it is sufficient for him. If he has not paid in cash he can return it and buy another.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Buy a fatty male for al-Hajj al-Tamattu‘ (advantageous); if you cannot, then find a mawju’ (cow); if you cannot find it then a male goat, if you do not find, then an ewe, if you cannot find then buy what is available for an offering.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘For al-Hajj al-Tamattu‘ (advantageous) young sheep is sufficient, a young goat is not sufficient.’ About a man who bought a sheep and wanted to buy one more fat, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He can buy it but he sells the first one.’ I do not know if he (the Imam) spoke of sheep or cow.”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has narrated from his ancestors who have said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Giving as charity one loaf is better than an emaciated offering.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of an offering with torn ears. He (the Imam) said, ‘If the tear is a mark it is not harmful; but if it is a rip then it is not acceptable.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has narrated from his ancestors who have stated this Hadith. ‘The Holy prophet, O Allah, grant compensation, to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “You must not sacrifice as offering what (of animal) is limping that is apparent, an emaciated, scabby, with torn ears or cut-off tail.’””

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the animal for offering which has a broken horn. He (the Imam) said, ‘If the horn inside is well, then it is sufficient.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you throw pebbles, then buy your offering, if it is badanah or cow, otherwise, make it a young fatty ram, if you do not find, then do what is available for you. You must maintain greatness for the reminders of Allah, because the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, slaughtered for the mothers of believers, a cow for each one and a badanah.’”

“This is about a man who buys an old animal whose front teeth have fallen, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful to offer it for sacrifice. If you buy it weak and found it fatty, it is sufficient but if you bought it weak and found it lean it is not sufficient.’” NOTE: In another Hadith it is said that the degree of weakness is measured by examining if there is any fat on its kidneys or not.

“One year my family and I went for al-Hajj but cattle became very expensive. I went and bought two sheep, which were expensive. When I examined them closely, I regretted greatly because they were very weak. I brought them and informed him (the Imam) ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about it and he (the Imam) said, ‘If there is any fat on their kidneys, then it is sufficient.’”

“Certain persons of al-Khawarij asked me about this verse of al-Quran: ‘Of two sheep and of two goats, ask which one is made unlawful? (Is it) male or female? (6:142) (What is the meaning of) camels two and of cows two?’ (6:143) ‘What Allah has made lawful and what has He made unlawful?’ I did not have any answer. I went to see abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when I was there for al- Hajj. I informed him (the Imam) of the story and he (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, for sacrifice in Mina’, has made domesticated sheep and goats lawful. He has made the wild ones unlawful, and His words, ‘Of camels two and of cows two’, means that Allah, most Blessed, most High, has made al-Trab camels lawful for offering as sacrifice and has made unlawful what is al- Bukhatiy. He has made domesticated cows lawful for offering as sacrifice and the wild ones unlawful.’ I returned to the man and informed him of the answer. He said, ‘This is something which camel has carried on its back from al-Hijaz.’”