Question:
What is the Best animal for Qurbani? [Question Published as Received]
The Fatwa
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The Answer
The Fiqh of the Answer
According to Imam al-Kasani (d. 583 AH), the finest choice for an animal used for Udhiyah is one that’s robust, good-looking, and in optimal health. He suggests this because the animal acts as a bridge to one’s afterlife. This rationale emphasizes that the core principle in Udhiyah is to obey Allah’s command in the best possible way to prepare for the afterlife.
Ibn Abidin (d. 1252 AH) notes that sheep is a better choice than the seventh portion of a cow, provided they have the same value and meat quality, and both are in good condition. He also states that a ram is preferable to a ewe under the same conditions, and the same goes for a female goat over a male goat. Female camels and cows are also deemed better than their male counterparts. This statement’s rationale appears twofold – one, a whole animal is seen as superior to a divided one; and two, an animal with more valuable meat in society is deemed better.
According to Mufti Radha al-Haqq (Hafizahullah), the ideal sacrificial animals should be healthy, visually pleasing, have soft meat, and be free from any defects that could make them unattractive. The underlying idea here is to offer Allah the best form of sacrifice, demonstrating the commitment to sacrificing only the best.[i] [ii] [iii]
And Almighty Allah Alone Knows Best
Maulana Mohammed Ubaydah Badat
Trainee Mufti
Reviewed and approved by
Mufti Faraz Adam
Darul Iftaa Muadh ibn Jabal
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[i] وأما الذي يرجع إلى الأضحية فالمستحب أن يكون أسمنها وأحسنها وأعظمها لأنها مطية الآخرة … ومهما كانت المطلية أعظم وأسمن كانت على الجواز على الصراط أقدر و أفضل الشاة أن يكون كبشاً أصلح أقرن موجود ألما روى جابر له أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ضحى بكبشين املحين أقرنين موجو این عظیمین سمينين والأقرن العظيم القرن، والأملح الأبيض… والموجوا: قيل: هو مدفوق الخصيتين وقيل: هو الخصي كذا روي عن أبي حنيفة فإنه روي عنه أنه سئل عن التضحية بالخصي فقال: مازاد في لحمه أنفع مما ذهب من خصيته. (بدائع الصنائع ج6 ص 341 )
[ii] قال : الشاة أفضل من سبع البقرة إذا استويا في القيمة واللحم والكبش أفضل من النعجة إذا استويا فيهما، والأنثى من المعز أفضل من التيس إذا استويا قيمة، والأنثى من الإبل والبقر أفضل ، حاوى، وفى الوهبانية أن الأنثى أفضل من الذكر (رد المحتار ج 6 ص 322 )
[iii] قربانی کے جانوروں کے لیے بہتر اور مستحب یہ ہے کہ موٹے تازے ہوں، خوبصورت ہوں، اطیب اللحم ہوں ، اور کوئی ایسا عیب نہ ہو کہ جس سے جانور دیکھنے میں برے معلوم ہوں ۔ تا ہم بڑے جانور میں علی الاطلاق مؤنث افضل ہے ، اور چھوٹے جانوروں میں خصی افضل ہے، اگر خصی نہ ہوتو مونث ہی افضل ہے۔ نیز چھوٹے جانور کی قربانی بڑے جانور کے ساتویں حصے سے افضل ہے جب کہ چھوٹا جانور موٹا تازہ اور اچھا ہو (فتاوى دار العلوم زكرياء ج 6 ص 350-351)