The Ruling on Sacrifice According to the Four Major Schools of Thought
Opinions among scholars from the four major schools regarding the ruling of sacrifice vary. Below is a summary of their views:
- The Opinion of the Majority of Scholars from the Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali Schools
The majority hold that sacrifice is a confirmed Sunnah of the Prophet -peace be upon him- for which the performer is rewarded, while the one who forgoes it does not incur sin. They support this view with the narration from Umm Salamah, who reported that the Prophet -peace be upon him- said: “When the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah enter, and one of you intends to perform the sacrifice, let him not touch his hair or skin.”
Imam Al-Shafi’i stated that this narration indicates it is not obligatory, as reflected in the phrase “one of you intends,” which implies a choice rather than an obligation. They also refer to the Prophet’s practice of sacrificing a horned ram on behalf of his Ummah.
- The Opinion of Most Scholars from the Hanafi School
Hanafi scholars assert that sacrifice is obligatory for those who are financially capable and residing in one place. They cite the divine command: “So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him]” (Al-Kawthar: 2), interpreting the word “sacrifice” as a directive obligating its performance. Additionally, they reference the narration of Ibn Umar -may Allah be pleased with them- that the Messenger of Allah -peace be upon him- resided in Medina for ten years offering sacrifices annually, which they argue illustrates a consistent obligation.
Conditions for a Valid Sacrifice According to the Four Schools
There are conditions that must be adhered to for the sacrifice to be valid. These include:
It Must Be from Herd Animals
All major scholars agree that the sacrifice must be made from herd animals such as camels, cattle, or sheep; thus, a sacrifice of a chicken, bird, donkey, or gazelle is not permissible. As stated by Al-Qurtubi, “The animals designated for sacrifice, by the consensus of Muslims, are the eight pairs: sheep, goats, camels, and cattle.”
It Must Be Free from Defects
The definitions of defects in a sacrifice and their manifestations vary among the schools, as detailed below:
- Hanafi School
For Hanafi scholars, a sacrifice is invalid if the animal is blind, has a defect in its eye, is severely emaciated (so that there is no flesh on its bones), or has a pronounced limp (unless it can still walk). Additionally, one cannot sacrifice an animal that has had a significant part of its ear or tail cut off, or one that has lost more than a third of its tail. Animals that flounder due to insanity are also invalid for sacrifice, while a rabid animal can be sacrificed if it is fat.
- Maliki School
The Maliki scholars maintain that a sacrifice is invalid if the animal is blind, has a visible defect in its eye, is sick, has visible mange, is insane, or is excessively emaciated. They also prohibit sacrificing animals with pronounced limps, or those missing any part (such as a leg, tail, or ear), whether the loss is congenital or not. A castrated animal is permitted to be sacrificed, while mute animals or those with missing teeth (two or more) are invalid.
- Shafi’i School
According to Shafi’i scholars, a sacrifice cannot be made with blind animals, those with visible eye defects, limping animals that cannot keep up with their peers in the pasture, visibly sick animals, extremely emaciated animals, or those with any sign of mange, regardless of the severity. However, a sacrifice can be made from an animal with split ears or one that has a broken horn.
- Hanbali School
For Hanbali scholars, a sacrifice is invalid if the animal is blind or has completely lost sight, severely emaciated, limping, or infected with a disease that compromises its flesh. They also do not accept animals whose ears are mostly cut off or whose horns are broken. A split ear is permissible, as well as animals with dry udders or those with significant portions of their tails missing. Sacrificing animals that are too small or malformed is also prohibited.
It Must Reach the Age of Sacrifice
The animal must be either an adult sheep or goat, or a calf over the age of two. This is derived from the Prophet’s statement -peace be upon him-: “Do not sacrifice except an adult animal, unless it is difficult for you, in which case you may sacrifice a young sheep.” This requirement is agreed upon by all four schools, though their interpretations of the meanings of “adult” and “young” differ:
- The Hanafi and Hanbali schools define a young animal as one that has completed six months of age for sheep. The “adult” status is designated for goats or sheep after one year, cows after two years, and camels after five years.
- The Maliki school considers the “young”: a sheep that completes one lunar year and enters its second year, while an “adult” goat is recognized after it completes one year and enters its second visibly. For cattle, an adult is noted after three years, while for camels, it is five years old, even if the entry is not evident.
- The Shafi’i school defines a young animal as between six months to a year for sheep, and an adult goat, cow, or camel as reaching an age of at least two or five years, respectively.