Musnad Ahmad 5:288

Hassan ibn Musa narrated to us, Zuhayr narrated to us, Abu Ishaq narrated to us, from Shurayh ibn al-Nu'man—and Abu Ishaq said: "He was a truthful man"—from Ali, who said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded us to examine the eyes and the ears, and that we should not offer as sacrifice an animal that is one-eyed, nor a *muqabalah* (one whose ear tip is cut), nor a *mudabarah* (one whose ear is cut from the back), nor a *sharqa'* (one whose ear is slit), nor a *kharqa'* (one whose ear is pierced)." Zuhayr said: I said to Abu Ishaq, "Did he mention *'adba'* (one with a slit ear)?" He said, "No." I said, "What is *muqabalah*?" He said, "The tip of the ear is cut." I said, "What is *mudabarah*?" He said, "The back of the ear is cut." I said, "What is *sharqa'*?" He said, "The ear is slit." I said, "What is *kharqa'*?" He said, "The ear is pierced by a branding mark."