I have a desire to emulate Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in the udhiyah/qurbani animal he slaughtered. Kindly provide me with a description of the sheep as mentioned in the Hadith.
Answer
Hereunder are Hadiths that mention the description of the animal Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) slaughtered:
1) Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) went to two horned sheep [male], that had black and white spots and slaughtered them with his own hands [for udhiyah].
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 5554. Also see: Hadith: 5558, 5564, 5565 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1966)
2) Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) or Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported, “When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) wished to slaughter an animal for udhiyah, he would purchase two large, fat, horned sheep [male] that had white and black spots and were castrated…”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3122. ‘Allamah Busiri has declared the chain sound. Zawaid Ibn Majah, Hadith: 1027. Also see: Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 2788 and Fathul Bari, before Hadith: 5553, vol. 10 pg. 10)
The location of these black spots are explained in the following Hadith:
3) Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) reports, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) ordered that a horned sheep be brought with black legs, black knees and black around the eyes. Such an animal was brought so that he could slaughter it…”
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1967. Refer: Takmilah Fathul Mulhim, Hadith: 5052)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar