There are important rulings regarding sacrificial animals in Islam that we must understand. The fundamental principle is that only those animals are permissible for sacrifice that have been mentioned by Allah in the Quran.
Apart from these animals, many others are halal and can even be expensive, such as deer. However, if someone sacrifices a deer, it will not count as a valid Qurbani. Qurbani is only valid for those animals that Allah Almighty has mentioned in the Holy Quran.
Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, says in the Qur’an:
وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ1
“and pronounce the name of Allah during the appointed days over the cattle that He has provided them”
The term “بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ” refers to cattle. In Surah Al-An‘am, Allah further clarifies:, Allah said:
ثَمَانِيَةَ أَزْوَاجٍ مِّنَ الضَّأْنِ اثْنَيْنِ وَمِنَ الْمَعْزِ اثْنَيْنِ2
“These are eight couples, two of sheep, two of goats”
and likewise Allah said:
وَمِنَ الْإِبِلِ اثْنَيْنِ وَمِنَ الْبَقَرِ اثْنَيْنِ3
“And likewise, of camels there are two, and of cows there are two”
These eight refer to four categories of animals, each consisting of a male and female pair: sheep, goats, camels, and cows. Thus, four categories of animals are permissible for sacrifice in Islam.
According to the stronger opinion, buffaloes (جاموس) are included in the category of cows (بقر), and therefore, their sacrifice is valid, though scholars differ on this matter.
As a general principle, when there is a difference of opinion on an issue that falls under the scope of ijtihad (independent scholarly reasoning), a person should avoid such a dispute. It is not necessary to act upon a matter that remains under scholarly disagreement. However, if someone only has a buffalo and he offers it for sacrifice, then his sacrifice will be valid according to the stronger (preferred) opinion.
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