Question
I have a sacrificial ram whose horns dipped in the flesh, which made him bleed. Is it permissible to slaughter it? Thanks.
Fatwa
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
The majority of scholars believe that defects of animal’s horns do not affect its validity as a sacrifice. Also, an animal with broken horns suffices as a sacrifice, whether the horns bled or not. This is the preponderant opinion of scholars, Allah Willing. It was narrated on the authority Hujayyah ibn ‘Adiyy back to ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: “The cow is (a sacrifice) on behalf of seven (persons). I said, ‘If it gave birth’, he said, ‘Slaughter her child along with her.’ I said, ‘What about the lame?’ he said, ‘If she can walk up to the slaughter place, (then you can slaughter it).’ I said, ‘What about the animal whose horn is broken?’ He said, ‘No harm." the Messenger of Allah commanded us to scrutinize (only) the eyes and the ears.’” [As-Sunan]
An-Nawawi said, “The sacrificial animal that has no horns or has a broken horn, whether the horn bleeds or not, fits as a sacrifice.” Al-Qaffaal said, ‘… unless the pain of the breaking of the horn affects the meat, like mange, etc. Anyway, the horned animal is better, for there is an unauthentic Hadeeth that the Messenger of Allah sacrificed two horned rams. Also, Ibn ‘Abbaas, May Allah Be Pleased with him, said, ‘Glorifying (the rites of Allah) is to offer a good sacrificial animal.'"
Allah Knows best.