Which animals are permissible for a Muslim to sacrifice?
The types that can be sacrificed are what we call livestock (an‘am): sheep, goats, cattle, and camels. These are the animals agreed upon by scholars as valid for sacrifice. However, there are some differences of opinion regarding other animals.
For example, what about ostriches? Can they be sacrificed or not? And what about roosters?
It was narrated that Bilal once sacrificed a rooster. Suwayd ibn Ghaflah said:
I heard Bilal say: “I don’t care if I sacrifice a rooster. Giving its value in charity to an orphan or a poor person is more beloved to me than sacrificing it.”
However, the established jurisprudence according to the four Imams is that the accepted sacrificial animals are the livestock mentioned above, and they also set minimum ages for them:
-
Sheep and goats: one year
-
Cattle: two years
-
Camels and cattle can be shared by seven people in one sacrifice, while one sheep suffices for one household. A single sheep can serve all the members of a household, regardless of their number.
Sacrifice within a household is Sunnah al-Kifayah (a communal obligation that suffices if performed by some members).
The animal should be healthy and free of defects—not blind, lame, or otherwise damaged.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah has prescribed excellence in all things. When you kill, do so excellently; when you slaughter, do so excellently. Sharpen your blade and make the animal comfortable.”
Slaughter should be done gently—do not strike the animal violently, do not drag it forcefully to the place of slaughter, and do not frighten it with the knife. The animal feels fear and stress, so the Prophet ﷺ instructed utmost mercy towards animals.
As narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas:
A man laid down a sheep to slaughter it while sharpening his knife. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Do you want to kill it painfully? Sharpen your knife before laying it down.”
For minimal pain, the slaughter should cut through four major blood vessels in the neck: the jugular veins, the carotid arteries, the esophagus, and the windpipe. Cutting these allows blood to flow out quickly, minimizing suffering and preventing blood from pooling or clotting.
Thus, the proper Islamic method of slaughter is:
-
Say Bismillah (“In the name of Allah”).
-
Cut the jugular veins, windpipe, and esophagus.
-
Let the blood flow out completely.
-
When eating, say Bismillah and eat.
Praise be to Allah for the blessing of Islam:
“So eat of what Allah has provided for you [and] mention His name upon it, if you are believers in His signs.” (Quran 6:118)
The proper Islamic slaughter is merciful, complete, and in accordance with the Sunnah.
— Prof. Dr. Ali Jum‘ah
ما هي الأنواع التي يجوز للمسلم أن يضحي بها؟

No comments:
Post a Comment