Kinds of sacrificial animals

Sacrificial animals are divided into two kinds, voluntary and obligatory:

The voluntary sacrificial animal is that which a person offers as an act of worship to Allaah The Almighty, without any previous compulsion. He has the right to come close (to Allaah) by offering such of animals as he likes, even if he is not in the state of Ihraam. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent sheep as offering (to be delivered to the Ka‘bah) with Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, when he led pilgrimage in the 9^th year of Hijrah, and offered in his (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 of different kinds:

1- The sacrificial animal to be slaughtered as offering for Tamattu‘ and Qiraan

It is obligatory on the pilgrim who combines both Hajj and ‘Umrah in the same journey. Allaah The Exalted Said (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]. Those are 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, i.e. it is impermissible to leave the (offering of) sacrificial animal to 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 to fasting and observe three days of fasting during Hajj and seven when he returns home.

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

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

It is the obligatory sacrifice because of missing Hajj, such as the case when the dawn of the day of Nahr (slaughtering) rises on the pilgrim and he has not stood at ‘Arafah. In this case, he should terminate the state of Ihraam with performing ‘Umrah, i.e. to offer Tawaaf around the House, and Sa‘y between Safa and Marwah, and get his head shaved or his hair cut short, on condition that he should compensate for the missed Hajj, and offer a sacrificial animal to be slaughtered during his compensatory Hajj.

A sacrificial animal is also obligatory because of being prevented from Hajj, i.e. 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, due to the Statement of Allaah 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 could not find a sacrificial animal to offer, then, to leave it for fasting is debatable.

It should be known that missing Hajj is specific to missing the standing at ‘Arafah, whereas prevention is general to prevention from any pillar of Hajj. But whoever is prevented from performing one of Hajj’s obligatory actions should not terminate Ihraam; but rather he should remain in his state of Ihraam, and whether it is binding on him to offer a sacrificial animal is debatable. Missing also is specific to Hajj and not ‘Umrah (since 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.

It is binding for leaving one of the obligatory actions of Hajj, like failure to assume Ihraam from the Miqaat, failure to combine both day and night in standing at ‘Arafah, failure to spend the night in Muzdalifah and Mina, failure to perform the farewell Tawaaf. In these cases, offering a sheep is obligatory. If it is not available, then, to leave it for fasting is debatable among scholars, some of whom support his/her fasting ten days analogous to the sacrificial animal to be offered for Tamattu‘, and others do not make fasting binding since the analogy is applicable but with difference.

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

It is obligatory for committing one of the things forbidden during the state of Ihraam -not including sexual intercourse, wedding contract, killing a 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. That is the same ransom of ailment mentioned in the following statement of Allaah 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 flesh to the poor of the Sanctuary), feed six needy persons, half a Saa‘ each, or fast for three days.

5- Expiation for sexual intercourse and foreplay

It means 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, 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 by touching her lustfully, or by masturbation, there is difference whether a camel or only a sheep like the ransom of ailment would be due on him. Concerning the validity of his Hajj, the right opinion adopted by the majority of scholars is that it becomes invalid only by actual vaginal penetration.

But if sexual intercourse occurred 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.

6- A sacrificial animal to be offered as a penalty for killing a game

It is due on him who, during the state of Ihraam, kills or helps, by beckoning or handing, or any such action, to kill a game. Here, offering a sacrificial animal equivalent to what he killed is due, to be slaughtered and distributed among the poor of the Sanctuary, based on the Statement of Allaah The Almighty (what means): {And whoever of you kills it intentionally - the penalty is an equivalent from sacrificial animals to what he killed, as judged by two just men among you as an offering [to Allaah] delivered to the Ka‘bah.} [Quran 5:95] He has the right to evaluate the equivalent and buy with the price food to be distributed to the needy, half a Saa‘ each, or fast a day for feeding each needy, based on the statement of Allaah The Almighty in the previous Holy Verse (what means): {or an expiation: the feeding of needy people or the equivalent of that in fasting.} [Quran 5:95] Hence, what is due here is optional.

https://islamstory.com/en/artical/1821/kinds-sacrificial-animals