"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.""
The Book of ad-Dahaya (Sacrifices)
Sunan an-Nasa'i 4369 - Commentary by Classical Scholars
Hadith Text Analysis
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) specified four types of animals that are invalid for sacrifice: the clearly one-eyed animal, the obviously sick animal, the noticeably lame animal, and the extremely emaciated animal lacking bone marrow.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam an-Nawawi explains that these four defects render the animal unsuitable because they significantly diminish its value and perfection, which are required for sacrificial offerings to Allah.
Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi states in al-Mughni: "The wisdom behind prohibiting these specific defects is that they represent clear deficiencies that affect the animal's health and completeness, making it unworthy as an offering to Allah."
Al-Khattabi comments: "The prohibition of these animals emphasizes that sacrifices must be from the best of one's property, reflecting the spirit of devotion and excellence in worship."
Legal Rulings
The majority of scholars agree that these four defects invalidate the sacrificial animal, based on the clear textual evidence.
Minor defects not mentioned in the hadith, such as broken horns or missing teeth, do not invalidate the sacrifice, as indicated by Al-Bara's response to the companion's additional concern.
Scholars differentiate between defects that substantially reduce the animal's value (which invalidate) and minor imperfections (which do not affect validity).
Practical Application
When selecting a sacrificial animal, Muslims must carefully examine it to ensure it is free from these four major defects.
The ruling applies to all types of sacrifices: Udhiyah (Eid sacrifice), Aqiqah (birth sacrifice), and voluntary offerings.
If an animal develops one of these defects after being designated for sacrifice but before slaughter, it should be replaced with a sound animal.