Q 2: Is it sufficient for 'Aqiqah (sacrifice for a newborn) and Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) to slaughter a ram whose tail (buttocks) was cut in order to increase fatness in all parts of its body?

A: Any sheep whose tails or buttocks were cut off are not sufficient for Ud-hiyah, `Aqiqah, or Hady (sacrificial animal offered by pilgrims). This is because it is narrated that `Aly (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) enjoined upon us to pay great attention to the eyes and ears, and not to sacrifice a one-eyed animal, Al-Muqabilah, Al-Mudabirah (an animal with a slit which leaves something hanging at the back of the ear), Al-Kharqa', or Al-Sharqa'. (Related by Ahmad and the Four Compilers of Hadith: 'Imams Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhy, Al-Nasa'iy and Ibn Majah' and held as Sahih (authentic) by Al-Tirmidhy and Ibn Hibban). (Part No. 11; Page No. 413) Al-Muqabilah is an animal with a slit which leaves something hanging at the front of the ear. Al-Kharqa' is an animal with a perforation in the ear while Al-Sharqa' is an animal with a lengthwise slit in the ear. The foregoing ruling applies if the tail or buttock is cut off. On the other hand, if the ram was originally created without a tail or buttock; the same ruling on Al-Jamma' (an animal with no horn) and Al-Sam`a' (an animal with very small ears) applies for it, meaning, it may be offered as a sacrifice.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.