43/5. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4369 — Four Unfit Sacrificial Animals
Animals That Are Not Allowed for Sacrifice: The Animal With One Bad Eye
Four Sacrificial Animal Defects That Do Not Qualify
Sunan an-Nasai : 4369
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4369
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، مَوْلَى بَنِي أَسَدٍ عَنْ أَبِي الضَّحَّاكِ، عُبَيْدِ بْنِ فَيْرُوزَ مَوْلَى بَنِي شَيْبَانَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلْبَرَاءِ حَدِّثْنِي عَمَّا، نَهَى عَنْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الأَضَاحِي . قَالَ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَيَدِي أَقْصَرُ مِنْ يَدِهِ فَقَالَ " أَرْبَعٌ لاَ يَجُزْنَ الْعَوْرَاءُ الْبَيِّنُ عَوَرُهَا وَالْمَرِيضَةُ الْبَيِّنُ مَرَضُهَا وَالْعَرْجَاءُ الْبَيِّنُ ظَلْعُهَا وَالْكَسِيرَةُ الَّتِي لاَ تُنْقِي " . قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي الْقَرْنِ نَقْصٌ وَأَنْ يَكُونَ فِي السِّنِّ نَقْصٌ . قَالَ مَا كَرِهْتَهُ فَدَعْهُ وَلاَ تُحَرِّمْهُ عَلَى أَحَدٍ .
Abu Ad-Dahhak 'Ubaid bin Fairuz Narrated from:
IU said to Al-Bara bin Azib: 'Tell me of the sacrificial animals that the Messenger of Allah disliked or forbade, He said: The Messenger of Allah stood up, and my hands are shorter than his, and he said: There are four that will not do as sacrifices: the animals that clearly has one bad eye: the sick animals that is obviously sick; the lame animal with an obvious limp; and the animal that is so emaciated that it is as if three is no marrow in its bones."' I said: "I dislike that the animals should have some fault in its horns or teeth' He said;'what you dislike, forget about it and do not make it for bidden to anyone.""
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4369In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 9English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4374
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4369
This hadith lists four sacrificial animal defects that make an animal unfit for the sacrifice described. They are a clearly one-eyed animal, an animal that is obviously sick, an animal with an obvious limp, and an animal so thin that its bones seem to have no marrow. Al-Bara bin Azib reports these clear categories. The questioner then mentions disliking faults in the horns or teeth. Al-Bara answers that a person may leave what he personally dislikes, but should not declare it forbidden for everyone. This final point is important. The hadith separates the four stated disqualifying defects from a person’s own preference. It teaches careful animal selection without turning every dislike into a ban.
What we learn from this hadith
- A clearly one-eyed animal does not qualify for the sacrifice described.
- An obviously sick, clearly lame, or severely emaciated animal does not qualify.
- Personal dislike of another fault may guide one’s choice.
- A person should not make a personal dislike forbidden for everyone.
