The term ‘Sacrificial Animals’ refers to the animals to be delivered to the Ka’bah as an offering and as a means to draw close to Allah The Almighty. He Says (what means): {And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allah upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]; and when they are [lifeless] on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful.} [Quran 22:36] The Messenger of Allah offered one hundred camels in his Farewell Hajj.

There are certain rulings and conditions relevant to sacrificial animals that the scholars have mentioned and which the pilgrim should be aware of.

Types of Sacrificial Animals

Sacrificial animals are divided into two types, those that are sacrificed voluntarily, and those that it is obligatory to sacrifice:

The voluntary sacrificial animal is that which a person offers as an act of worship to Allah The Almighty, without any previous compulsion. He has the right to draw closer to Allah by offering these animals as he wishes, even if he is not in the state of Ihraam (ritual consecration). The Prophet sent sheep as offering to be delivered to the Ka‘bah with Abu Bakr when he led pilgrimage in the 9th year of Hijrah, and he offered in this Farewell Hajj one hundred camels.

The obligatory sacrificial animal is that which is due on a person owing to any cause that makes it binding on him to slaughter an animal as offering. The obligatory sacrificial animal to be slaughtered as offering in Hajj is itself of different kinds:

1)    The sacrificial animal to be slaughtered as an offering for the Tamattu‘ and Qiraan types of Hajj

This is obligatory upon the pilgrim who combines both Hajj and ‘Umrah in the same journey: Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {…then whoever performs ‘Umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. That makes ten complete [days]…..} [Quran 2:196] The performer of Hajj Al-Qiraan is subject to the same ruling as the performer of Hajj At-Tamattu‘, by means of analogy: it is due on both to offer what is available of sacrificial animals, the least of which is a sheep or one-seventh of a camel or one-seventh of a cow.

The ruling should follow the same sequence given in the previous holy verse, that is, that it is impermissible to leave the offering of the sacrificial animal for anything else unless one fails to do it, such as not finding it or not affording it, in which case he (is permitted to) leave it for fasting and observe three days of fasting during Hajj and seven more when he returns home.

The previous ruling is applicable only to he whose family is not resident in the area of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. Thus, if his family is resident in the area of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, then no sacrificial animal is due on him.

2)    The sacrificial animal to be slaughtered as an offering for missing Hajj or being prevented from Hajj.

This is the obligatory sacrifice due to missing Hajj, such as the case when the dawn of the day of Nahr (slaughtering) comes upon the pilgrim and he has not stood at ‘Arafah. In this case, he should terminate the state of Ihraam by performing ‘Umrah, which means he should make Tawaaf (circumambulation) around the House, and Sa‘y (walking) between Mounts Safa and Marwah, and get his head shaved or his hair cut short, on condition that he should compensate for the missed Hajj as well as offer a sacrificial animal to be slaughtered during his compensatory Hajj.

A sacrificial animal is also obligatory due to the pilgrim being prevented from Hajj, which is when one in the state of Ihraam is exposed to an impediment that prevents him from completing the ceremonies of Hajj which he has assumed, like an illness, an enemy, or any such impediments. This is due to the statement of Allah The Almighty (what means): {…But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals….} [Quran 2:196] In this case, an offering of a sacrificial animal is due on him to be slaughtered wherever he is prevented. If he cannot find (or afford) a sacrificial animal to offer, then, to leave it for fasting is a debatable matter among the scholars.

It should be known that this notion of missing Hajj is specific to missing the standing at ‘Arafah, whereas prevention is general and includes prevention from any pillar of Hajj. However, whoever is prevented from performing one of Hajj’s obligatory actions should not terminate his Ihraam; but rather should remain in his state of Ihraam, and whether it is binding on him to offer a sacrificial animal is also something debatable among the scholars. This notion of ‘missing’ is also specific to Hajj and not ‘Umrah (as there is no specific time for it unlike Hajj), whereas prevention is common to both Hajj and ‘Umrah.

3)    A sacrificial animal to be slaughtered as offering for leaving one of Hajj’s obligatory actions

This is binding for leaving one of the obligatory actions of Hajj, such as failure to assume Ihraam from the Meeqaat (designated points of assuming Ihraam), the failure to combine both day and (some of the) night in standing at ‘Arafah, the failure to spend the night in Muzdalifah and Mina, or the failure to perform the Farewell Tawaaf. In these cases, offering a sheep is obligatory. If it is not available (or affordable) then, to leave it for fasting is something debatable among scholars, some of whom support his/her fasting ten days analogous to the sacrificial animal to be offered for the Tamattu‘ Hajj, while others do not make fasting binding since the analogy is applicable but with a difference.

4)    A sacrificial animal to be offered for doing one of the actions forbidden in Hajj

This is obligatory for committing one of the things forbidden during the state of Ihraam – not including having sexual intercourse, conducting a wedding contract, and killing game - such as to shave the head, wear sewn clothes, wear perfume, or cut the nails, in which case offering a sacrificial animal is obligatory, with the freedom of choice, which is the same expiation of ailment mentioned in the following statement of Allah The Almighty (what means): {….And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice…..} [Quran 2:196] Here, the pilgrim is given the freedom to choose to slaughter a sheep (and distribute its meat to the poor of the Sacred Sanctuary), feed six needy persons half a Saa‘ (double handful) each, or fast for three days.

5)    Expiation for sexual intercourse and foreplay

This refers to the sacrificial animal that is due because of having sexual intercourse: if one had sexual intercourse with his wife including actual penetration before the first termination of Ihraam, then his Hajj would be invalid, and slaughtering a camel would be due on him. But he should complete the remaining ceremonies of Hajj provided that he would compensate for it in the coming year. But if he ejaculated semen only by approaching her, without penetration, or merely by touching her lustfully, or by masturbation, there is difference whether a camel or only a sheep like the expiation of ailment would be due on him. Concerning the validity of his Hajj, the more correct opinion adopted by the majority of scholars is that it becomes invalid only by actual vaginal penetration.

But if sexual intercourse occurs after the first termination of Ihraam, then his Hajj would not be invalid; and whether a sheep or a camel to be slaughtered as offering is due on him is debatable. The woman is like the man in the obligation of the ransom if she accorded with him.

Rulings Regarding Sacrificial Animals - II