(peace be upon him), that he said: "The best sacrifice is a jadh' (lamb) of sheep" (19). It is a gharib (rare) hadith. It is possible that the thani (mature animal) is better, because (20) the Prophet (peace be upon him) said (21): "Do not slaughter anything but a musinnah (mature animal), unless it is difficult for you, then slaughter a jadh' of sheep." Narrated by Muslim and Abu Dawud (22). This indicates the superiority of the thani over the jadh', due to the fact that he made the thani the basis and the jadh' a substitute, which one does not turn to except in the absence of the thani.

Section: It is recommended to fatten the sacrifice and to choose a fine one, due to the saying of Allah Almighty: {And whoever honors the symbols of Allah, indeed it is from the piety of hearts} (23). Ibn Abbas said: Honoring them means fattening them, valuing them, and choosing the best of them (24). This is because that is greater in its reward and more beneficial. The best in the Udhiyah (sacrifice) from sheep in terms of color is white, for what was narrated from the freedwoman of Abu Waraqah ibn Sa'id, she said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The blood of a white-colored animal is purer with Allah than the blood of two black ones." Narrated by Ahmad with the same meaning (25). Abu Hurayrah said: "The blood of a white one is more beloved to Allah than the blood of two black ones" (26). Also, because it is the color of the sacrifice of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Then, whatever is better in color is better.

1751 - Issue: He said: (It is not valid [as a sacrifice] except a jadh' from sheep, and a thani from others).

This is the view of Malik, al-Layth, al-Shafi'i, Abu Ubayd, Abu Thawr, and the People of Opinion (Ashab al-Ra'y). Ibn Umar and al-Zuhri said: The jadh' is not valid, because it is not valid from [animals] other than sheep, so it is not valid...