This excerpt is taken from Professor Dr. Fazl Elahi's book Masail-e-Qurbani.
Regarding the age of the sacrificial animal, by the grace of Allah, five points are presented below:
➊ The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised the Ummah to sacrifice animals with two teeth for sacrifice. Imam Muslim narrated from Hazrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he stated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
”لا تذبحوا إلا مسنة إلا أن يعسر عليكم فتذبحوا جذعة من الضأن“
"Do not sacrifice any animal except one with two teeth, but if difficulty arises, then sacrifice a lamb younger than two teeth."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter on Sacrifice, Hadith Number 13 (1963) 1555/3
➋ From the above hadith, it is clearly understood that in cases of hardship and difficulty, a lamb younger than two teeth can also be sacrificed as a sacrifice. However, the question arises whether it is permissible to sacrifice such a young animal under normal circumstances?
To find the answer to this question, three hadiths are mentioned below:
⟐ Imam Nasai narrated from Hazrat Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
”ضحينا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بجذع من الضأن“
"We sacrificed a lamb younger than two teeth with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)."
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i, Book of Sacrifices, Al-Musannah wal-Jadh'ah, 219/7.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar has declared its chain strong.
Reference: (Fath al-Bari 10/10)
, Sheikh Albani has declared it authentic.
Reference: (See: Sunan an-Nasa'i 915/3).
⟐ Imam Abu Dawood and Imam Ibn Majah narrated from Hazrat Kalib that he said: We were with a companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) from Banu Sulaym, known as Mujashi' (may Allah be pleased with him). There was a shortage of goats, so he ordered a caller who announced:
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقول: ”إن الجذع يوفي مما يوفى منه الثني“
"Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Where an animal with two teeth suffices, a lamb younger than two teeth also suffices."
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter on what is permissible in sacrifices regarding age, Hadith Number 206/2,2796; and Sunan Ibn Majah, Chapters on Sacrifices, What suffices in sacrifices, Hadith Number 306/2,3178
The wording of the hadith is from Sunan Abi Dawood. Sheikh Albani has declared it authentic. (See:
Reference: Sahih Sunan Abi Dawood 538/2 and Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah 202/2
).⟐ Imam Ahmad narrated from Hazrat Umm Bilal (may Allah be pleased with her) that indeed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
”ضحوا بالجذع من الضأن فإنه جائز“
"Sacrifice a lamb younger than two teeth [Jadh'] because it is permissible."
Reference: Al-Fath ar-Rabbani fi Tartib Musnad al-Imam Ahmad, Chapters on Sacrifice, Chapter on the age permissible for sacrifice, 74/13
- Hafiz Haithami wrote that it was narrated by Ahmad and Tabarani (in Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir) and its narrators are trustworthy.
Reference: (Majma' az-Zawa'id 19/4)
From the above three hadiths, it is understood that even under normal circumstances, when it is not difficult to find an animal with two teeth, it is permissible to sacrifice a lamb younger than two teeth [which is Jadh'].
➌ Based on the above hadiths, the majority of the scholars of the Ummah interpret the hadith of Hazrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned earlier to mean that sacrificing an animal with two teeth is preferable. Hafiz Ibn Hajar states:
نقل النووى عن الجمهور أنهم حملوه على الأفضل، والتقدير: يستحب لكم أن لا تذبحوا إلا مسنة، فإن عجزتم فاذبحوا جذعة من الضأن
"An-Nawawi has narrated from the majority of the scholars of the Ummah that they have interpreted this hadith as indicating preference [that sacrificing an animal with two teeth is preferable], and the meaning of the hadith is: It is recommended for you to sacrifice an animal with two teeth, and if you cannot afford to sacrifice such an animal, then sacrifice a lamb younger than two teeth [Jadh']."
Reference: Fath al-Bari 15/10; also see: Kitab al-Majmu' 294/8 - 295, the same view was preferred by Allama Shawkani, Sheikh Azim Abadi, Sheikh Mubarakpuri, and Sheikh Ahmad al-Banna. (See: Nayl al-Awtar 204/5; 'Awn al-Ma'bud 3550/7; Tuhfat al-Ahwazi 71/5; and Bulugh al-Amani (72/13)
➍ The important point regarding an animal younger than two teeth [Jadh'] is that this permission is specific only to lambs and sheep; sacrificing young animals of other species, such as goats, at this age is not permissible. Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim narrated from Hazrat Bara' bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:
”ضحى خال لي يقال له أبو بردة قبل الصلاة فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: شاتك شاة لحم.
فقال: يا رسول الله إن عندي داجنا جذعة من المعز.
قال: اذبحها ولا تصلح لغيرك“
"My maternal uncle, known as Abu Burda (may Allah be pleased with him), sacrificed before the Eid prayer. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to him: Your goat is a meat goat.
He said: I have a young goat younger than two teeth.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Then sacrifice that one, but it is not permissible for others to do so."
Reference: Muttafaqun 'Alayh: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter on the Prophet's statement to Abu Burda (may Allah be pleased with him): Sacrifice the Jadh' from the goat... Part of Hadith Number 82/10,5556; and Sahih Muslim, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter on its time, Hadith Number 4 - (1961), 1552/3.
The wording of the hadith is from Sahih al-Bukhari.In the narration of Hazrat Sahl bin Abi Hathmah (may Allah be pleased with him):
”وليست فيها رخصة لأحد بعدك“
"After you, no one else is permitted to do this [i.e., to sacrifice a goat younger than two teeth]."
Reference: Quoted from: Fath al-Bari 14/10.
➎ What is the age of the lamb younger than two teeth [Jadh'] that is permitted to be sacrificed? There are different opinions. Some scholars have stated one year, some six months, some seven months, and others have presented different views. Imam Nawawi says:
”ثم الجذع ما استكمل سنة على أصح الأوجه“
"The most correct opinion regarding the age of Jadh' is that it has completed one full year."
Reference: Kitab al-Majmu' 293/8.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar states regarding the age of [Jadh']:
”فمن الضأن ما أكمل السنة وهو قول الجمهور“
"According to the majority's opinion, the Jadh' among sheep is one that has completed one full year of age."
Reference: Fath al-Bari 5/10.
