Buffalo Sacrifice - Online Islamic Forum

In this essay we will read the topic Buffalo Sacrifice.The Holy Quran itself, while describing the livestock, has mentioned four of them: sheep, goats, camels and cows. And by the combination of their male and female, they are referred to as eight pairs (eight in pairs). (Al-An’am 6:144-142)

The sacrifice of these four animals is collectively and coincidentally allowable by the whole Muslim Ummah. Regardless of whatever breed these animals are and whatever name human beings call them; their sacrifice is allowed. Even though its form and name are rather unique from the word “sheep,” because it falls under the breed and category of sheep, its sacrifice is allowable.

The Quran and Sunnah do not mention any breed specifically for its sacrifice and specially Buffalo Sacrifice. Allah Almighty commanded his people to slaughter the “Baqar” in the mouth of Moses (peace be upon him), but the people of Moses began to ask about its condition and appearance, because of which they were forced to endure difficulty. A number of verses of Surah Al-Baqarah explain this in detail.

While interpreting these verses, Imam al-Mufassirin, Allama Abu Ja’far, Muhammad ibn Jarir ibn Yazid ibn Ghalib, al-Tabari (310-224 AH) quoting companions’ words, followers, and scholars states:

“Sayyiduna Moses’ people were wrong in consulting Sayyiduna Moses (peace be upon him) on cows. When they were commanded to slaughter cows, if they had butchered even a small breed of cow, then the divine order would have been completed and their obligation would have been completed, because no particular breed of cow or a particular age had been specified to them.” They had to slaughter any animal for which ‘Baqar’ was mentioned in the first place, following the clear command. (Jami’ al-Bayan an Ta’wil ai-Quran [Tafsir al-Tabari]: 100/2)

It can be comprehended that if Allah Almighty orders the killing of a cow, then killing any breed or kind of cow complies with the divine order. This is evident from the Arabic dictionary and from the scholars that as the Bakhti is a type of Ibl (camel), the buffalo is also a type and breed of Baqar (cow).

In this context, we introduce the words of some chosen scholars of Arabic language from every era:

1 Laith bin Abu Sulaym Tabi’i passed away in 138/148 AH and mentioned:

“The buffalo (a cow) and the camel (a camel) are included in the eight pairs that Allah Almighty has mentioned.” (Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim: 1403/5, and the chain is good)

2: Arabic literature and language Imam, Abu Mansur, Muhammad bin Ahmad, Al-Azhari, Haravi (370-282 AH) states:

“Among the breeds of cows are the buffaloes. Its only relative is the buffalo. It is the most milk-giving of all types of cows and is physically large.” (Al-Zahir fi Gharib al-Faz al-Shafi’i, p. 101)

3: The Arabic linguist and writer Abul Fath Nasir bin Abdul Sayyid, Mu’tazili, Mutarzi (610-538 AH) says:

“The buffalo is a species of cow.” (Al-Maghrib fi Shardul-Mu’rab, p. 89)

4: The renowned jurist and hadith expert, Allamah Abdullah bin Ahmad bin Muhammad, also called Ibn Qudama, al-Maqdisi (620-541 AH) states:

“The buffalo is a type of cow.” (Al-Kafi fi Fiqh al-Imam Ahmad: 390/1)

5: The grandfather of Sheikh Ibn Taymiyyah Amjad, Abu al-Barakat, Abd al-Salam bin Abdullah, Harani (652-590 AH) stated: “Buffaloes are a species of cows.” This illustrates that the affirmation of some highly regarded scholars of the fourteenth century that “the buffalo is a species of cows” is not evidently established by scholars, but instead, the buffalo was similar to a cow in certain judgments and the term “similar to a cow”/”similar to a cow” was employed for it. And because one linguist erred, he put “a species of cows” where he should have put “like a cow”/”like a cow”. is certainly not accurate, because the error is that of one scholar or linguist. Did all scholars and linguists need to concur? Most renowned linguists and scholars declared in their great books that the buffalo is the descendant of the cow, and by our knowledge, not a single linguist rejected or refuted this till the thirteenth century AH. If this were incorrect, then Arabic lexicographers would have surely clarified.

Those who do not believe in Arabic lexicographers are requested to tell us why “Baqr” is equal to “cow”?

To understand Buffalo Sacrifice, we must read that the buffalo’s name is cow. To illustrate this, we cite the following words of the great Arab scholar and mufti, Sheikh Muhammad bin Salih Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) (1347-1421 AH). He was questioned regarding the offering of the buffalo and inquired, since God has cited sheep and goat (even though they belong to the same breed [ghanum]) in the Holy Quran, why not the two buffalo and cow (in case they also belong to the same breed)? He replied:

Buffalo Sacrifice, The buffalo is a type of cow. Allah Almighty has referred to the only animals known to the Arabs in the Holy Quran. (During the time of ignorance) Arabs used to make their liked animal’s halal and their disliked animals haram. Buffalo was unknown to the Arabs (and the intention was to describe the halal and haram, not the types).

(Majmoo’ Fatawa and Sa’eel Fadailat al-Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih Uthaymeen: 34/25)