Is the sacrifice of an animal born without horns (Jammā') valid?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Sacrifices (Uḍḥiyah)
Primary text
The sacrifice of an animal that is *jammā'* (born without horns), *ṣam’ā’* (having small ears), or *battarā’* (lacking a tail, whether congenitally or due to amputation) is valid. Ibn 'Umar, Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib, Al-Hasan, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, Al-Nakha'i, and Al-Hakam did not see any issue with sacrificing the *battarā'*. The reasoning supporting validity is that this is a defect that does not diminish the meat, nor does it compromise the objective of the sacrifice, and no prohibition regarding it has been reported, thus it must be permissible. The absence of horns differs from *‘aḍab* (a broken horn), as the latter is explicitly prohibited due to potentially causing pain or ugliness, whereas being born without horns is a natural state that is not a defect.
Supporting text
Al-Layth disliked sacrificing an animal whose tail was cut above the base (*qaṣabah*). Ibn Hamid stated that the sacrifice of a *jammā'* is invalid because removing more than half of the horn prevents the sacrifice, making complete absence an even stronger preventative. He also argued by analogy: just as blindness prevents sacrifice if the eye is missing, the lack of horns should prevent the sacrifice if the horn is completely absent, similar to how *‘aḍab* (a broken horn) is a defect.