Animal Sacrifice
Total Hadiths 57
Authentic Hadiths on Animal Sacrifice and Islamic Customs
These prophetic narrations provide important guidance on animal sacrifice practices in Islam, specifically highlighting Udhiyah, Fara', and 'Atirah. Some traditions state that the Prophet Muhammad forbade the ancient practices of Fara' and 'Atirah, declaring that they hold no standing. However, other narrations clarify that offering a yearly sacrifice or Udhiyah is an obligation upon families, alongside early rulings where Fara' and 'Atirah were called duties. The Prophet explained that instead of slaughtering a newborn camel for Fara'—which deprives the owner of milk and causes the mother camel grief—it is far better to let the animal grow to be used for the cause of Allah or given to a widow. According to Islamic scholars, these texts together outline how Islam refined historical sacrificial customs into meaningful acts of charity.
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ حَزْمٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّهَا أَخْبَرَتْهُ قَالَتْ، عَائِشَةُ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَا فَتَلْتُ، قَلاَئِدَ هَدْىِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِيَدَىَّ، ثُمَّ قَلَّدَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِيَدَيْهِ، ثُمَّ بَعَثَ بِهَا مَعَ أَبِي، فَلَمْ يَحْرُمْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَىْءٌ أَحَلَّهُ اللَّهُ لَهُ حَتَّى نُحِرَ الْهَدْىُ.
Narrated `Aisha: I twisted the garlands of the Hadis (i.e. animals for sacrifice) of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) with my own hands. Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) put them around their necks with his own hands, and sent them with my father (to Mecca). Nothing legal was regarded illegal for Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) till the animals were slaughtered.
[1] Sending the Hady to Makkah while one is somewhere else, does not require that one should be treated as a Muhrim .Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2317In-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 16USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 38, Hadith 510
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ زُبَيْدٍ، سَمِعَ الشَّعْبِيَّ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ .
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of al-Bara' b. 'Azib through another chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1961fIn-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 11USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 22, Hadith 4828
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنِي وَهْبُ بْنُ جَرِيرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ الْعَقَدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ الشَّكَّ فِي قَوْلِهِ هِيَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُسِنَّةٍ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters, but did not mention tht doubt (expressed in his statement) That is (the goat of less than a year) is better than a goat of more than one year.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1961jIn-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 15USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 22, Hadith 4832
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ فَرَعَ وَلاَ عَتِيرَةَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no fara' and no' Atirah."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4222In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 1English translation : Vol. 5, Book 41, Hadith 4227
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثْتُ أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، وَسُفْيَانَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْفَرَعِ وَالْعَتِيرَةِ . وَقَالَ الآخَرُ " لاَ فَرَعَ وَلاَ عَتِيرَةَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah forbade Fara' and 'Atirah."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4223In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 2English translation : Vol. 5, Book 41, Hadith 4228
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ ذَبَحَ قَبْلَ الصَّلاَةِ فَلْيُعِدْ ". فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ هَذَا يَوْمٌ يُشْتَهَى فِيهِ اللَّحْمُ ـ وَذَكَرَ مِنْ جِيرَانِهِ فَكَأَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَذَرَهُ ـ وَعِنْدِي جَذَعَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ شَاتَيْنِ فَرَخَّصَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلاَ أَدْرِي بَلَغَتِ الرُّخْصَةُ أَمْ لاَ، ثُمَّ انْكَفَأَ إِلَى كَبْشَيْنِ ـ يَعْنِي فَذَبَحَهُمَا ـ ثُمَّ انْكَفَأَ النَّاسُ إِلَى غُنَيْمَةٍ فَذَبَحُوهَا.
Anas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before the `Id prayer, should repeat it (slaughter another one)." A man said "This is the day on which meat is desired." Then he mentioned the need of his neighbors (for meat) and the Prophet (ﷺ) seemed to accept his excuse. The man said, "I have a Jadha'a which is to me better than two sheep." The Prophet (ﷺ) allowed him (to slaughter it as a sacrifice). But I do not know whether this permission was general for all Muslims or not. The Prophet (ﷺ) then went towards two rams and slaughtered them, and the people went towards their sheep and slaughtered them.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5561In-book reference : Book 73, Hadith 17USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 68, Hadith 468
وَحَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُلَيَّةَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِعَمْرٍو - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ " مَنْ كَانَ ذَبَحَ قَبْلَ الصَّلاَةِ فَلْيُعِدْ " . فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا يَوْمٌ يُشْتَهَى فِيهِ اللَّحْمُ . وَذَكَرَ هَنَةً مِنْ جِيرَانِهِ كَأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَدَّقَهُ قَالَ وَعِنْدِي جَذَعَةٌ هِيَ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ شَاتَىْ لَحْمٍ أَفَأَذْبَحُهَا قَالَ فَرَخَّصَ لَهُ فَقَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي أَبَلَغَتْ رُخْصَتُهُ مَنْ سِوَاهُ أَمْ لاَ قَالَ وَانْكَفَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى كَبْشَيْنِ فَذَبَحَهُمَا فَقَامَ النَّاسُ إِلَى غُنَيْمَةٍ فَتَوَزَّعُوهَا . أَوْ قَالَ فَتَجَزَّعُوهَا .
Anas Narrated from:
Anas (b. Malik) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said on the day of Nahr (Sacrifice): He who slaughtered (the animal as a sacrifice) before the ('Id) prayer. should repeat it (i. e. offer another animal). Thereupon a person stood up and said: Messenger of Allah, that is the day when meat is much desired, and he also made a mention of the need of his neighbour, and perhaps Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) attested it.He (the person who had sacrificed the animal before the 'Id prayer) said: I have a goat of less than one year of age with me and I like it more than two fleshy goats; should I offer it as a sacrifice? He permitted him to do so. He (the narrator) said: I do not know whether this permission was granted to anyone else besides him or not. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then turned towards two rams. and he slaughtered them, and the people' came to the goats and got them distributed amongst themselves (for offering them as sacrifice).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1962aIn-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 16USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 22, Hadith 4833
أَخْبَرَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ " مَنْ كَانَ ذَبَحَ قَبْلَ الصَّلاَةِ فَلْيُعِدْ " . فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا يَوْمٌ يُشْتَهَى فِيهِ اللَّحْمُ فَذَكَرَ هَنَةً مِنْ جِيرَانِهِ كَأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَدَّقَهُ . قَالَ عِنْدِي جَذَعَةٌ هِيَ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ شَاتَىْ لَحْمٍ . فَرَخَّصَ لَهُ فَلاَ أَدْرِي أَبَلَغَتْ رُخْصَتُهُ مَنْ سِوَاهُ أَمْ لاَ ثُمَّ انْكَفَأَ إِلَى كَبْشَيْنِ فَذَبَحَهُمَا .
Anas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said on the Day of Sacrifice:' Whoever slaughtered his sacrifice before the prayer, let him repeat it.' A man stood up and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, this is a day when people want to eat meat.' He mentioned that his neighbors were poor and it was as if the Messenger of Allah believed him. He said: 'I have a Jadh'ah that is dearer to me than two sheep for meat.; So he granted him a concession (allowing him to sacrifice it) but I do not know whether it applied to anyone else or not. Then he went toward two rams and sacrificed them. (Sahih)
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4396In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 36English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4401
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ ذَبَحَ قَبْلَ الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّمَا ذَبَحَ لِنَفْسِهِ، وَمَنْ ذَبَحَ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ فَقَدْ تَمَّ نُسُكُهُ، وَأَصَابَ سُنَّةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ".
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever slaughtered the sacrifice before the prayer, he just slaughtered it for himself, and whoever slaughtered it after the prayer, he slaughtered it at the right time and followed the tradition of the Muslims."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5546In-book reference : Book 73, Hadith 2USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 68, Hadith 454
حَدَّثَنَا صَدَقَةُ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ " مَنْ كَانَ ذَبَحَ قَبْلَ الصَّلاَةِ فَلْيُعِدْ ". فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا يَوْمٌ يُشْتَهَى فِيهِ اللَّحْمُ ـ وَذَكَرَ جِيرَانَهُ ـ وَعِنْدِي جَذَعَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ شَاتَىْ لَحْمٍ. فَرَخَّصَ لَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ، فَلاَ أَدْرِي أَبَلَغَتِ الرُّخْصَةُ مَنْ سِوَاهُ أَمْ لاَ، ثُمَّ انْكَفَأَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى كَبْشَيْنِ فَذَبَحَهُمَا، وَقَامَ النَّاسُ إِلَى غُنَيْمَةٍ فَتَوَزَّعُوهَا أَوْ قَالَ فَتَجَزَّعُوهَا.
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said on the day of Nahr, "Whoever has slaughtered his sacrifice before the prayer, should repeat it (slaughter another sacrifice)." A man got up and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! This is a day on which meat is desired." He then mentioned his neighbors saying, "I have a six month old ram which is to me better than the meat of two sheep."The Prophet (ﷺ) allowed him to slaughter it as a sacrifice, but I do not know whether this permission was valid for other than that man or not. The Prophet (ﷺ) then went towards two rams and slaughtered them, and then the people went towards some sheep and distributed them among themselves.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5549In-book reference : Book 73, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 68, Hadith 457
