The Sacrifices - Section 1

Anas said that God’s Messenger sacrificed with his own hand two horned rams which were white with black markings, mentioned God’s name and said, "God is most great.” He added:

I saw him placing his foot on their sides and saying, "In the name of God. God is most great.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَن أنس قَالَ: ضَحَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِكَبْشَيْنِ أَمْلَحَيْنِ أَقْرَنَيْنِ ذَبَحَهُمَا بِيَدِهِ وَسَمَّى وَكبر قَالَ: رَأَيْته وضاعا قَدَمَهُ عَلَى صِفَاحِهِمَا وَيَقُولُ: «بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ أكبر»

‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger ordered a horned ram with black legs, a black belly and black round the eyes, and it was brought for him to sacrifice. He told ‘A’isha to get the knife, and then told her to sharpen it with a stone. When she had done so he took it, then taking the ram he placed it on the ground and cut its throat. He then said, "In the name of God. O God, accept it from Muhammad, Muhammad’s family and Muhammad’s people.” Then he sacrificed it. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَمَرَ بِكَبْشٍ أَقْرَنَ يَطَأُ فِي سَوَادٍ وَيَبْرَكُ فِي سَوَادٍ وَيَنْظُرُ فِي سَوَادٍ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ لِيُضَحِّيَ بِهِ قَالَ: «يَا عَائِشَةُ هَلُمِّي الْمُدْيَةَ» ثُمَّ قَالَ: «اشْحَذِيهَا بِحَجَرٍ» فَفَعَلَتْ ثُمَّ أَخَذَهَا وَأَخَذَ الْكَبْشَ فَأَضْجَعَهُ ثُمَّ ذَبَحَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «بِسْمِ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمِنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ» . ثُمَّ ضحى بِهِ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Jabir reported God's Messenger as saying, "Sacrifice only a full- grown animal unless it is difficult for you, in which case sacrifice a she-lamb.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَذْبَحُوا إِلَّا مُسِنَّةً إِلَّا أَنْ يَعْسُرَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَذْبَحُوا جَذَعَةً مِنَ الضَّأْن» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir said the Prophet (ﷺ) gave him some goats to divide among his friends as sacrificial animals, and a yearling remained over. He mentioned it to God’s Messenger, and he said, "Sacrifice it yourself.” In a version he said he told God’s Messenger he had got a lamb, and he replied, "Sacrifice it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَعْطَاهُ غَنَمًا يقسمها على صحابته ضحايا فَبَقيَ عتود فَذكره لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: «ضَحِّ بِهِ أَنْتَ» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أصابني جذع قَالَ: «ضح بِهِ»

Ibn ‘Umar said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to sacrifice and slaughter at the place of prayer. Bukhari transmitted it. (Cf. Chap. 48a)

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَذْبَحُ وَيَنْحَرُ بِالْمُصَلَّى. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Jabir reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "A cow serves for seven, and a camel serves for seven.” Muslim and Abu Dawud transmitted it, the wording being the latter’s.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٌ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «الْبَقَرَةُ عَنْ سَبْعَةٍ وَالْجَزُورُ عَنْ سَبْعَةٍ» . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ

Umm Salama reported God’s Messenger as saying, "When the ten days* come and one of you intends to make sacrifice, he must not touch any of its hair or skin.” A version says, “He must not take hairs or clip nails.” Another says, “If anyone sees the new moon of Dhul Hijja and intends to sacrifice, he must not take any of its hairs or nails.” * The period to which reference is made is the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The day of sacrifice is the tenth. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ وَأَرَادَ بَعْضُكُمْ أَنْ يُضَحِّيَ فَلَا يَمَسَّ مِنْ شَعْرِهِ وَبَشَرِهِ شَيْئًا» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ «فَلَا يَأْخُذَنَّ شَعْرًا وَلَا يَقْلِمَنَّ ظُفْرًا» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ «مَنْ رَأَى هِلَالَ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ وَأَرَادَ أَنْ يُضَحِّيَ فَلَا يَأْخُذْ مِنْ شَعْرِهِ وَلَا مِنْ أَظْفَارِهِ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God's Messenger as saying, “There are no days in which a good deed is more pleasing to God than these ten days.” On being asked whether not even <i>jihad</i> in God’s path were as pleasing, he replied, “Not even <i>jihad</i> in God’s path, except when a man goes out in person with his property and loses both life and property.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهِنَّ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَيَّامِ الْعَشَرَةِ» قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَلَا الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «وَلَا الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِشَيْءٍ» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Jabir said that on the day of sacrifice the Prophet (ﷺ) sacrificed two horned rams which were white with black markings and had been castrated. Then when he made them face the <i>qibla</i> he said, “I have turned my face towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, following Abraham’s religion as a <i>hanif</i>, and I am not one of the polytheists. My prayer, my religious rites, my life and my death belong to God, the Lord of the universe, who has no partner. That is what I was commanded to do, and I am one of the Muslims (Al-Qur’an; 6:161-163). O God, it comes from You and is given to You from Muhammad and his people. In the name of God, and God is most great.” Then he made sacrifice. Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it. A version by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi says that he sacrificed with his own hand and said, “In the name of God, and God is most great. O God, this is from me and from those of my people who have not sacrificed.”

عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: ذَبَحَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمَ الذَّبْحِ كَبْشَيْنِ أَقْرَنَيْنِ أَمْلَحَيْنِ موجئين فَلَمَّا وجههما قَالَ: «إِنِّي وجهت وَجْهي للَّذي فطر السَّمَوَات وَالْأَرْضَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أَمَرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ اللَّهُمَّ مِنْكَ وَلَكَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأُمَّتِهِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ثُمَّ ذَبَحَ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِأَحْمَدَ وَأَبِي دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيِّ: ذَبَحَ بِيَدِهِ وَقَالَ: «بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا عَنِّي وَعَمَّنْ لَمْ يُضَحِّ من أمتِي»

Hanash said:

I saw Ali sacrificing two rams and asked him the meaning of it. He replied, “God’s Messenger enjoined me to sacrifice on his behalf, so that is what I am doing.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted something similar.

وَعَنْ حَنَشٍ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ عَلِيًّا رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يُضَحِّي بِكَبْشَيْنِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: مَا هَذَا؟ فَقَالَ: (إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَوْصَانِي أَنْ أُضَحِّيَ عَنْهُ فَأَنَا أُضَحِّي عَنْهُ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَرَوَى التِّرْمِذِيُّ نَحْوَهُ

'Ali said, “God’s Messenger enjoined us to pay great attention to the eye and the ear, and not sacrifice an animal with a slit which leaves something hanging at the front or back of the ear, or with a lengthwise slit or a perforation in the ear." Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Darimi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but Ibn Majah's words ended with "and the ear.”

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ نَسْتَشْرِفَ الْعَيْنَ وَالْأُذُنَ وَأَلَّا نُضَحِّيَ بِمُقَابَلَةٍ وَلَا مُدَابَرَةٍ وَلَا شَرْقَاءَ وَلَا خَرْقَاءَ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ والدارمي وانتهت رِوَايَته إِلَى قَوْله: وَالْأُذن

He said, "God’s Messenger forbade us to sacrifice an animal with a broken horn or a slit ear.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَن نضحي بأعضب الْقرن وَالْأُذن. رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib said that when God's Messenger was asked what should be avoided in sacrificial animals he pointed with his hand* and said, "Four types:

a lame animal which obviously limps, a one-eyed animal which has obviously lost the sight of one eye, a sick animal which is obviously sick, and a lean animal which has no marrow.” *i.e. his fingers. Malik, Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

وَعَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سُئِلَ: مَاذَا يُتَّقَى مِنَ الضَّحَايَا؟ فَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ فَقَالَ: «أَرْبَعًا الْعَرْجَاءُ والبين ظلعها والعرواء الْبَيِّنُ عَوَرُهَا وَالْمَرِيضَةُ الْبَيِّنُ مَرَضُهَا وَالْعَجْفَاءُ الَّتِي لَا تَنْقَى» . رَوَاهُ مَالِكٌ وَأَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ

Abu Said said God’s Messenger used to sacrifice a choice, horned ram with black round the eyes, the mouth and the feet. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُضَحِّي بِكَبْشٍ أَقْرَنَ فَحِيلٍ يَنْظُرُ فِي سَوَادٍ وَيَأْكُلُ فِي سَوَادٍ وَيَمْشِي فِي سَوَادٍ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

Mujashi', who belonged to the B. Sulaim, said that God’s Messenger used to say, "A lamb may be given as full payment for that for which a kid is full payment.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَن مجاشع مِنْ بَنَى سُلَيْمٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ الْجَذَعَ يُوفِي مِمَّا يُوفِي مِنْهُ الثَّنِيُّ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه

Abu Huraira said he heard God’s Messenger say, "A lamb is a good sacrifice.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «نِعْمَتِ الْأُضْحِيَّةُ الْجذع من الضَّأْن» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Ibn ‘Abbas said, "We were with God’s Messenger on a journey when the day of sacrifice came, and we shared with one another, seven for a cow and ten for a camel.” Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a <i>hasan gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي سَفَرٍ فَحَضَرَ الْأَضْحَى فَاشْتَرَكْنَا فِي الْبَقَرَةِ سَبْعَةٌ وَفِي الْبَعِيرِ عَشَرَةٌ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غريبٌ

‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, "On the day of sacrifice no one does a deed more pleasing to God than the shedding of blood. The sacrifice will come on the day of resurrection with its horns, its hairs and its hoofs, and the blood finds acceptance with God before it falls on the ground, so be glad about it.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا عَمِلَ ابْنُ آدَمَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ إِهْرَاقِ الدَّمِ وَإِنَّهُ لَيُؤْتَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِقُرُونِهَا وَأَشْعَارِهَا وَأَظْلَافِهَا وَإِنَّ الدَّمَ لَيَقَعُ مِنَ الله بمَكَان قبل أَن يَقع بِالْأَرْضِ فيطيبوا بهَا نفسا» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, "There are no days on which God likes better to be worshipped than the ten days of Dhul Hijja. Fasting observed on each of these days is equivalent to a year’s fasting, and prayer during each of these nights is equivalent to prayer during <i>Lailat al-qadr</i>.’* * A night towards the end of Ramadan. See Book 7, Chap. 9. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but Tirmidhi said its <i>isnad</i> is weak.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُتَعَبَّدَ لَهُ فِيهَا مِنْ عَشْرِ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ يَعْدِلُ صِيَامُ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مِنْهَا بِصِيَامِ سَنَةٍ وَقِيَامُ كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْهَا بِقِيَامِ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ إِسْنَادُهُ ضَعِيف

Jundub b. ‘Abdallah said:

I was present at the festival on the day of sacrifice along with God’s Messenger. He had done no more than finish his prayer and give the salutation when he saw the flesh of sacrificial animals which had been sacrificed before he finished his prayer. So he said, “Anyone who has sacrificed before he prayed (or, we prayed) must sacrifice another in place of it." In a version he said: The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed on the day of sacrifice, then delivered a sermon, then sacrificed, and he said, “Anyone who has sacrificed before he prayed (or, we prayed) must sacrifice another in place of it, and if anyone has not sacrificed he should do so in God’s name." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَن جُنْدُب بن عبد الله قَالَ: شَهِدْتُ الْأَضْحَى يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَلَمْ يَعْدُ أَن صلى وَفرغ من صلَاته وَسلم فَإِذا هُوَ يرى لَحْمَ أَضَاحِيٍّ قَدْ ذُبِحَتْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَفْرَغَ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ فَقَالَ: «مَنْ كَانَ ذَبَحَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ أَوْ نُصَلِّيَ فَلْيَذْبَحْ مَكَانَهَا أُخْرَى» . وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: قَالَ صَلَّى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ ثُمَّ خَطَبَ ثُمَّ ذَبَحَ وَقَالَ: «مَنْ كَانَ ذَبَحَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ فَلْيَذْبَحْ أُخْرَى مَكَانَهَا وَمَنْ لَمْ يَذْبَحْ فليذبح باسم الله»

Nafi‘ reported Ibn ‘Umar as saying, “The festival of sacrifice lasts two days after the day of sacrifice.” Malik transmitted it, and he said he had heard something similar from ‘Alib. Abu Talib.

وَعَنْ نَافِعٍ أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ قَالَ: الْأَضْحَى يَوْمَانِ بعد يَوْم الْأَضْحَى. رَوَاهُ مَالك وَقَالَ: وَبَلَغَنِي عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ مثله

Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s Messenger stayed ten years in Medina, and that he used to observe the sacrifice. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: أَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ عَشْرَ سِنِينَ يُضحي. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Zaid b. Arqam said the companions of God’s Messenger asked him the significance of these sacrifices and he replied, “It is a custom which has come down from your father Abraham." They asked what reward they would receive for them and he replied, “For every hair you will receive a blessing." They asked about wool, and he replied, “For every strand of wool you will receive a blessing." Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ قَالَ: قَالَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا هَذِهِ الْأَضَاحِيُّ؟ قَالَ: «سُنَّةُ أبيكم إِبْرَاهِيم عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام» قَالُوا: فَمَا لَنَا فِيهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «بِكُلِّ شَعْرَةٍ حَسَنَةٌ» . قَالُوا: فَالصُّوفُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «بِكُلِّ شَعْرَةٍ مِنَ الصُّوفِ حَسَنَة» رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَابْن مَاجَه