Animal sacrifice Criteria

Criteria sacrificial animals is twofold:

1. criteria validity, that is all nature in animals, so it is worth valid if used for sacrifice.
2. criteria sunna, meaning some animals nature of advisable to take advantage more than other animals in the implementation of sacrificial worship. 

Among the criteria for the validity of animal sacrifice is
  
 

 First, the animals owned by the lawful ownership (halal). So it is not lawful to sacrifice the animals from the loot, stolen animals, or owned by the unlawful contract (haram akad), or purchased with money that pure haram, such as usury (riba). 

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, Alloh is All-Good, and did not receive except the good ..." (Narrated by Muslim)

 

second, the type of sacrificial animals in accordance with the provisions of the Shari'a. 

 Animals were allowed to sacrifice is of a kind bahimatul An'am, which include: camels, cows, goats, and sheep. Alloh says: 

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ الله عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الأَنْعَامِ

And for every nation have We define sharia slaughter (sacrifice), that they may mention the name of Alloh the animals that have been in Alloh's sustenance to them ... (Surat al-Hajj: 34)

Imam An-Nawawi said the consensus of the scholars that the sacrifice is not valid unless the type of camels, cows, and goats. (Sharh Saheeh Muslim, An-Nawawi's work).
 

Third, animal sacrifice has a minimum age specified

Minimum age of sacrificial animals to be used for sacrifice is as follows: 

no.    animals                            Minimum age        

-1. Sheep.                                 Even 6 months, entered the seventh month
-2. Goat.                                   Even one year, entered in the second year
-3. Cattle.                                 Even 2 years old, entered the third year
-4. Camel.                                 Even 5 years old, entered the sixth year

 The table above according to the hadith narrated by Muslim.

Other proposition, the hadith of Mujasyi 'bin Mas'ud radliallahu' anhu said: "Verily, sheep age 6 months is equal to 1 year old goat." (Narrated by Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and  Al-Albani).   Fourth, was clean from defect which causes unauthorized to be sacrificial animals.

There are four defects that cause unauthorized animal to be sacrificed animals: blind in one eye and obviously blind, sick and obviously pain, limping and obviously limp, and very thin as to not have the bone marrow. 

From Al-Bara' bin Azib radliallahu' anhu,verily the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said with a gesture with his hand like that(four fingers open): "There are four defects that should not be in the animal sacrifice: blind in one eye and obviously blind, sick and obviously pain, limping and obviously limp, and very thin as to not have the bone marrow. "Al-Bara 'said," Whatever animal traits you do not like then leave and do not be made unlawful for others. (Narrated by An-Nasa'i, Abu Dawud and  in his saheeh by Al-Albani)

Fifth, if the provision of sacrificial animals from joint result, the joint venture participants may not exceed the maximum. To beef up to 7 people, and Camel maximum of 10 people. Whereas for the goats, there can be no joint.

but there is a difference of opinion concerning this opinion
.
 

While the criteria of the Sunnah in animal sacrifice, among other horned rams, black mixed white around his eyes and legs. These traits are favored goat Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, and he used to sacrifice.

From 'Aisha and Abu Hurairah radliallahu' anhuma, that one day the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam wanted to sacrifice, then bought two large sheep , fat, horned, white mixed with black, and neutered. Then he slaughtered it ... (Narrated by Ibn Majah and saheeh by Al-Albani).  

wallahu a'lam