Minimum Age Requirements for Sacrificial Animals in Islam

Compiled by: Tohed.com

Research Summary of the Age of Sacrificial Animals

(With all references and important arguments)

Introduction

To understand the correct rulings of sacrifice, it is necessary to determine the minimum age of the animal. The Holy Prophet ﷺ clearly stated that generally a two-year-old (musinnah) animal should be slaughtered for sacrifice, however, for sheep (dhan) the allowance of one-year-old (jaz’ah) is permitted. Below are the linguistic and jurisprudential explanations of jaz’ah and musinnah, along with evidences and arguments regarding the minimum age of various animals (camel, cow, goat, sheep).

The Original Noble Hadith

قال رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم: لا تذبحوا إلا مسنةً إلا أن یعسر علیکم فتذبحوا جذعةً من الضأن

Reference: (Sahih Muslim)

Translation: Only slaughter musinnah animals for sacrifice, but if that is not available, then jaz’ah of sheep is also permissible.

From this hadith, it is understood that the fundamental ruling is for musinnah animals, but the permission for jaz’ah of sheep is specifically granted.

➊ Age of Jaz’ah Sheep

The Opinion of the Majority of Scholars and Linguistic Imams

According to the majority, jaz’ah sheep is one that is a full one year old. Statements of major Arabic linguists and hadith scholars:

Reference: Fath al-Bari: “Among the sheep, the one that has completed one year is called ‘jaza'” (Fath al-Bari, vol. 23, p. 329)

Reference: Nawawi Sharh Muslim: (vol. 2, p. 155)

Reference: Nail al-Awtar: “The ‘jaza’ of sheep is the one that has a complete year… This is the most common usage among the linguists and the majority of scholars besides them” (Nail al-Awtar, vol. 5, p. 202)

Reference: Tuhfat al-Ahwazi (citing Nihaya Ibn Kathir): “And among the sheep, the one that has completed a year” (Tuhfat al-Ahwazi, vol. 2, p. 55)

Reference: Majma’ al-Bihar: “The ‘jaza’ of sheep is the one that has completed a year” (Majma’ al-Bihar, vol. 1, p. 181)

Reference: Badh al-Majhud: “In the language, it is the one that has completed a year” (Badh al-Majhud, vol. 4, p. 71)

Conclusion: According to the majority of hadith scholars, jurists, and linguistic authorities, the ‘jaza’ of a sheep is a lamb that has completed one full year. This is the preferred position.

Position of the Hanafis and Hanbalis

According to the Hanafis and some Hanbalis, the ‘jaza’ of sheep is one that is six months old. Accordingly:

Reference: Hidayah: “And the ‘jaza’ of sheep is the one that has completed six months according to the jurists’ school” (Hidayah with Kifayah, vol. 4, p. 34)

Reference: Fath al-Bari: “Half a year, which is the view of the Hanafis and Hanbalis” (Fath al-Bari, vol. 23, p. 329)

Reference: Badh al-Majhud: “Because in the language it is the one that has completed a year” (Badh al-Majhud, vol. 4, p. 71)

But since this statement is against the consensus of the majority of linguists, the stronger opinion is that it is necessary for the “شاتُکَ شاةُ لحمٍ” of a sheep to be one year.

➋ Age and Ruling of Juz’ah of a Goat (Kid)

Hadith of Abu Burda bin Niyar (RA)

He (RA) sacrificed before the Eid prayer, so the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“اذبحها ولا تصلح لغیرک”

Reference: (Sahih Bukhari, p. 23)

Meaning, this was merely eating meat, the sacrifice was not valid.

He said that I have a (young goat) which is fat and fresh. May I slaughter it as a sacrifice? The Prophet (PBUH) said:

Reference: (Bukhari, Muslim)

Meaning, this permission is only for you, not for the general Muslims.

Explanation by the Imams

Reference: “And it is stated that a from a goat does not suffice for sacrifice, Imam Nawawi said: This is agreed upon.” (Nail al-Awtar, vol. 5, p. 202)

Reference: “The from a goat does not suffice for anyone…” (A’un al-Ma’bud, vol. 3, p. 54)

Linguistic Definition of Juz’ah of a Goat

Reference: Fath al-Bari: “It is what enters the second year” (Fath al-Bari, vol. 23, p. 324)

Reference: Tuhfat al-Ahwazi (citing Nihaya Ibn Athir): “The ‘jaz’ of cows and goats is what enters the second year” (Tuhfat al-Ahwazi, vol. 2, p. 355)

Reference: Majma’ al-Bihar: “The ‘jaz’ of cows and goats is that it completes one year and is slaughtered in the second” (Majma’ al-Bihar, vol. 1, p. 181)

Conclusion: The ‘jaz’ of a goat is that which completes at least one full year and enters the second year. However, from the hadith of Abu Burda (RA) and other texts, it appears that generally the ‘jaz’ of a goat is not valid for sacrifice.

Hadith of Uqbah bin Amir (RA)

When they were given some sacrificial animals to distribute, all were divided except one ‘Atud’ remained. They said that nothing was left for me. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“ضحِّ بہ أنت”

Reference: (Sahih Bukhari, Muslim)

In a sound chain narration by Imam Bayhaqi, this addition is present:

“ولا رخصة فیھا لأحدٍ بعدک”

Reference: (Bayhaqi citing Fath al-Bari, vol. 23, p. 327; Nawawi Sharh Muslim)

What is ‘Atud’?

Reference: Fath al-Bari: “And it is from the young of the goat that has grown strong, been cared for, and completed a year” (Fath al-Bari, vol. 23, p. 327)

Reference: Nawawi: “The linguists said: al-‘Atūd is from the young of the goat… and it is what has reached one year” (Nawawi, vol. 2, p. 155)

Conclusion: ‘Atūd refers to a one-year-old goat. This permission was also specific to Hazrat Uqbah bin Amir (RA); in general ruling, sacrificing a one-year-old goat (Jaz‘ah Ma‘iz/‘Atūd) is not permissible.

➌ Age of Jaz‘ah Cow

Reference: Tuhfat al-Ahwazi (citing Nihayah): “Al-Jaz‘ from goats and cows is what has entered the second year” (Tuhfat al-Ahwazi, vol. 2, p. 355)

Reference: Kifayah (citing Maghrib): “Al-Jaz‘ from cattle is what is before the second year, and from cows and sheep in the second year” (Kifayah, vol. 4, p. 34)

Conclusion: The Jaz‘ah of a cow is the calf that has completed one full year and entered the second year. However, according to the Hadith, Jaz‘ah of a cow is not permissible for sacrifice; it must be Musinnah (two years old).

➍ Age of Jaz‘ah Camel

Reference: Fath al-Bari: “Al-Jaz‘ from camels is what has entered the fifth year” (Fath al-Bari, vol. 23, p. 324)

Reference: Kifayah (citing Maghrib): “Al-Jaz‘ from cattle is what is before the second year, except that from camels it is in the fifth year” (Kifayah, vol. 4, p. 34)

Result: The juvenile camel is one that has completed four years and entered the fifth. However, for sacrifice, no animal other than a sheep is permissible as a juvenile, so the camel must be at least a musinnah (two-year-old).

➎ Definition of Musinnah (Two-Year-Old) Animal

قال رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم: “لا تذبحوا إلا مسنة…”

Reference: (Sahih Muslim)

According to the explanations of Muhaddithin and lexicographers, “Musinnah” refers to an animal that has become two-year-old, meaning its front milk teeth have fallen out and new teeth have emerged.

Reference: Nawawi’s Explanation of Muslim: “Al-Musinnah is the two-year-old of everything, and the two-year-old is older than the juvenile by one year” (Vol. 2, p. 155)

Reference: Nail al-Awtar: “Al-Musinnah is the two-year-old of everything from camels, cows, and sheep, one year or more” (Nail al-Awtar, Vol. 5, p. 212)

Reference: Fath al-Bari: “The linguists said the musinnah is the two-year-old who sheds his tooth… and it is… in the hoof and claw in the third year, and in the foot in the sixth year” (Fath al-Bari, Vol. 23, p. 328)

Reference: Masawi Sharh Muwatta (Shah Waliullah): “It is not permissible from camels, cows, and goats below the two-year-old” (Vol. 1, p. 181)

Reference: Badh al-Majhud: “The juvenile from goats and others is not permissible without dispute” (Badh al-Majhud, Vol. 4, p. 71)

Ages of Becoming Two-Year-Old in Different Animals

◈ Camel (Camel): Completes five years and enters the sixth.
◈ Cow (Cow): Completes two years and enters the third.
◈ Goat (Goat): Completes two years and enters the third.
◈ Sheep (Sheep): If one does not want to perform partial sacrifice (Jaz’ah), then it should also complete two years and enter the third to be called Thaniyah. However, one year partial sacrifice is also permissible for it.

➏ Practice of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA)

Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) always sacrificed animals with teeth (Thaniyah), whether sheep or goat, camel or cow. Although the Hadith permits partial sacrifice (Jaz’ah) for sheep, he used to be cautious in this matter.

Reference: (See: Musaffa, Vol. 1, p. 181; Zarqani, Vol. 3, p. 223)

➐ Summary of the Discussion

◈ General rule: The sacrificial animal must be mature (second year).
◈ A camel must complete at least five full years and be in its sixth year.
◈ A cow must complete two full years and be in its third year.
◈ A goat must complete two full years and be in its third year.
◈ Exception: Only a one-year-old sheep (which has completed a full year) is valid for sacrifice.
◈ Specifically, two Companions (Abu Burda bin Niyar and Uqbah bin Amir) were individually permitted to sacrifice a one-year-old goat (one-year-old goat), which is not generally permissible for the rest of the Ummah.
◈ The emergence of teeth is also considered a sign of maturity. Sometimes, in certain regions or climates, animals may shed teeth earlier, so in those cases, the actual criterion will be the shedding of old teeth and the emergence of new ones. However, most of the time, the above-mentioned standard ages are the general measure of the animal’s maturity.

➑ Final point

Sacrifice is an important act of worship that requires caution and complete adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. No statement should be made without evidence, and for this reason, the hadith scholars and jurists have clearly explained the issues of age and teeth.

و اللہ اعلم بالصواب

Sources and References:

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Reference: Sahih Bukhari

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Reference: Sahih Muslim

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Reference: Fath al-Bari (Ibn Hajar)

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Reference: Sharh Muslim by Nawawi

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Reference: Nail al-Awtar (Shawkani)

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Reference: Tuhfat al-Ahwazi (Mubarakpuri)

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Reference: Majma’ al-Bihar (Tahir Patni)

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Reference: Bazl al-Mujahud (Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri)

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Reference: Hidayah with Kifayah

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Reference: Zarqani Sharh Muwatta

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Reference: Maswi, Musaffa Sharh Muwatta (Shah Waliullah ﷺ)

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Reference: A’un al-Ma’bud Sharh Abu Dawood

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Reference: Tisra al-Wusul, Fiqh al-Lughah, Muntahi al-Arab, Kashf al-Ghummah, etc.

May Allah Almighty grant us the correct understanding of sacrifice and the ability to act upon it. آمین.