‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger ordered a horned ram with black legs, a black belly and black round the eyes, and it was brought for him to sacrifice. He told ‘A’isha to get the knife, and then told her to sharpen it with a stone. When she had done so he took it, then taking the ram he placed it on the ground and cut its throat. He then said, "In the name of God. O God, accept it from Muhammad, Muhammad’s family and Muhammad’s people.”Then he sacrificed it. Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir reported God's Messenger as saying, "Sacrifice only a full- grown animal unless it is difficult for you, in which case sacrifice a she-lamb.”Muslim transmitted it.

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir said the Prophet gave him some goats to divide among his friends as sacrificial animals, and a yearling remained over. He mentioned it to God’s Messenger, and he said, "Sacrifice it yourself.”In a version he said he told God’s Messenger he had got a lamb, and he replied, "Sacrifice it.”(Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar said that the Prophet used to sacrifice and slaughter at the place of prayer. Bukhari transmitted it. (Cf. Chap. 48a)

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, "A cow serves for seven, and a camel serves for seven.”Muslim and Abu Dawud transmitted it, the wording being the latter’s.

Umm Salama reported God’s Messenger as saying, "When the ten days* come and one of you intends to make sacrifice, he must not touch any of its hair or skin.”A version says,“He must not take hairs or clip nails.”Another says,“If anyone sees the new moon of Dhul Hijja and intends to sacrifice, he must not take any of its hairs or nails.”* The period to which reference is made is the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The day of sacrifice is the tenth. Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God's Messenger as saying,“There are no days in which a good deed is more pleasing to God than these ten days.”On being asked whether not even jihad in God’s path were as pleasing, he replied,“Not even jihad in God’s path, except when a man goes out in person with his property and loses both life and property.”Bukhari transmitted it.

Jabir said that on the day of sacrifice the Prophet sacrificed two horned rams which were white with black markings and had been castrated. Then when he made them face the qibla he said,“I have turned my face towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, following Abraham’s religion as a hanif, and I am not one of the polytheists. My prayer, my religious rites, my life and my death belong to God, the Lord of the universe, who has no partner. That is what I was commanded to do, and I am one of the Muslims (Al-Qur’an; 6:161-163). O God, it comes from Thee and is given to Thee from Muhammad and his people. In the name of God, and God is most great.”Then he made sacrifice. Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it. A version by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi says that he sacrificed with his own hand and said,“In the name of God, and God is most great. O God, this is from me and from those of my people who have not sacrificed.”

Hanash said:I saw Ali sacrificing two rams and asked him the meaning of it. He replied,“God’s Messenger enjoined me to sacrifice on his behalf, so that is what I am doing.”Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted something similar.

Ali said,“God’s Messenger enjoined us to pay great attention to the eye and the ear, and not sacrifice an animal with a slit which leaves something hanging at the front or back of the ear, or with a lengthwise slit or a perforation in the ear." Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Darimi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but Ibn Majah's words ended with "and the ear.”