Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil Kitāb wa Sunnat kī Roshnī meṅ by Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbānī
Is it permissible to offer a young sheep or lamb (khīrah) for Qurbānī (sacrifice)?
One of the conditions outlined by Sharīʿah for sacrificial animals is that the animal must be "thaniyy" — i.e., it must have completed the age of two years (in the case of camels, cows, and goats). However, in the case of sheep, there is an exception:
If there is hardship or difficulty, then it is permissible to sacrifice a young sheep (khīrah), i.e., a lamb less than one year old, provided it appears healthy and well-developed.
Narrated by Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنهما:
"Do not slaughter except a thaniyy (two-year-old animal), unless it becomes difficult for you — in that case, sacrifice a sheep (khīrah)."
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Aḍāḥī, Bāb: What May Be Sacrificed — Ḥadīth 1963
Narrated by Abū ʿĀrifah, vol. 5, p. 228
There are two possible meanings of hardship (ʿusr):
① A two-toothed (thaniyy) animal is unavailable, i.e., one cannot find such an animal in the market.
② A thaniyy is available but very expensive, and one cannot afford it.
In either of these two scenarios, sacrificing a young sheep (khīrah) is permissible.
Some people argue that khīrah can always be offered, without any condition. They cite the narration from Kulaib, who said:
“We were on a journey when the time of Eid al-Aḍḥā arrived. Each of us tried to trade two or three young lambs (khīrah) for a two-toothed animal. A man from the Muzaynah tribe said:
‘We were also with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on a journey during Eid, and everyone was trying to obtain thaniyy animals in exchange for their lambs.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, a lamb (khīrah) fulfills the requirement that a thaniyy fulfills.””
Sunan al-Nasāʾī, Kitāb al-Aḍāḥī, Bāb al-Musinnah wal-Jadhʿah: 1388
Musnad Aḥmad: 5/368, Ḥadīth 23511
al-Mustadrak al-Ḥākim: 4/226, Ḥadīth 7540
This ḥadīth supports the correct view, not the misconception.
① The companions were actively trying to replace their young lambs with thaniyy animals, showing that the norm was to offer thaniyy for sacrifice.
② The Prophet ﷺ only permitted the lamb (khīrah) because of scarcity of appropriate animals during that journey.
This matches the earlier narration from Jābir رضي الله عنه, where the allowance is given only in the case of hardship.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ
✦ Question:
Is it permissible to offer a young sheep or lamb (khīrah) for Qurbānī (sacrifice)?
✦ Answer:
One of the conditions outlined by Sharīʿah for sacrificial animals is that the animal must be "thaniyy" — i.e., it must have completed the age of two years (in the case of camels, cows, and goats). However, in the case of sheep, there is an exception:
If there is hardship or difficulty, then it is permissible to sacrifice a young sheep (khīrah), i.e., a lamb less than one year old, provided it appears healthy and well-developed.
❖ Authentic Ḥadīth Evidence:
Narrated by Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنهما:
"Do not slaughter except a thaniyy (two-year-old animal), unless it becomes difficult for you — in that case, sacrifice a sheep (khīrah)."
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Aḍāḥī, Bāb: What May Be Sacrificed — Ḥadīth 1963 Narrated by Abū ʿĀrifah, vol. 5, p. 228❖ Explanation of “Difficulty” (ʿUsr wa Tangi):
There are two possible meanings of hardship (ʿusr):
① A two-toothed (thaniyy) animal is unavailable, i.e., one cannot find such an animal in the market.
② A thaniyy is available but very expensive, and one cannot afford it.
In either of these two scenarios, sacrificing a young sheep (khīrah) is permissible.
❖ Common Misconception: Is Khīrah Always Permissible?
Some people argue that khīrah can always be offered, without any condition. They cite the narration from Kulaib, who said:
“We were on a journey when the time of Eid al-Aḍḥā arrived. Each of us tried to trade two or three young lambs (khīrah) for a two-toothed animal. A man from the Muzaynah tribe said:
‘We were also with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on a journey during Eid, and everyone was trying to obtain thaniyy animals in exchange for their lambs.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, a lamb (khīrah) fulfills the requirement that a thaniyy fulfills.””
Sunan al-Nasāʾī, Kitāb al-Aḍāḥī, Bāb al-Musinnah wal-Jadhʿah: 1388 Musnad Aḥmad: 5/368, Ḥadīth 23511 al-Mustadrak al-Ḥākim: 4/226, Ḥadīth 7540❖ Refutation of the Misconception:
This ḥadīth supports the correct view, not the misconception.
① The companions were actively trying to replace their young lambs with thaniyy animals, showing that the norm was to offer thaniyy for sacrifice.
② The Prophet ﷺ only permitted the lamb (khīrah) because of scarcity of appropriate animals during that journey.
This matches the earlier narration from Jābir رضي الله عنه, where the allowance is given only in the case of hardship.
Conclusion:
- The ideal animal for Qurbānī is one that is two-toothed (thaniyy).
- If difficulty arises due to unavailability or high cost, it is permissible to offer a young sheep (khīrah).
- Offering a khīrah without necessity is not the correct practice.
- Therefore, always aim for a thaniyy animal, and resort to a khīrah only in cases of hardship.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ
