What is the order of preference among the prescribed sacrificial animals?
Chapter on Ransom (Fidyah) and Penalty for Hunting
Al-Mughni
Book of Hajj
Primary text
The most excellent offering is the camel (*ibil*), followed by cattle (*baqar*), and then sheep (*ghanam*). This hierarchy is inferred from the narration by Abu Hurayrah where the Prophet, peace be upon him, likened the reward for attending Jumu'ah prayer in the first hour to offering a *badanah* (camel), the second hour to a cow, and the third hour to a horned ram, as found in Bukhari and Muslim. Furthermore, Ibn Abbas advised a woman seeking recompense to offer a camel or a cow, indicating the camel is superior, based on the reasoning that what yields more meat is more beneficial to the poor.
Supporting text
The text notes that sheep meat is considered better in quality (*tayyib*) than the meat of a camel, even though a camel sacrifice suffices for seven sheep. Similarly, mutton (*dan*) is preferred over goat meat for this reason of superior taste.