Understanding the Minimum Age Requirements for Sacrificial Animals in Islam
The sacrificial animal (udhiyah) can be one of four types: sheep, goats, camels, and cows, with sheep being the preferred choice.
For the age requirement, it is based on the lunar year, not the Gregorian calendar. For sheep, entering the second year is sufficient. However, in the Maliki school of thought, there are different opinions due to the varying interpretations of the term “jadh’a” in the hadith narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah, where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Do not slaughter except a fully grown animal, but if it is difficult for you, then slaughter a jadh’a of sheep” (Muslim).
The term “jadh’a” has been interpreted differently:
• Some say it is a one-year-old, which is the well-known opinion.
• Others say it is a ten-month-old.
• Some say it is an eight-month-old.
• Others say it is a six-month-old.For those opinions that say less than a year, there is no evidence that it must be a large jadh’a, as stated by al-Qadi Abu Bakr Ibn al-Arabi.
For goats, it must clearly enter the second year, at least by a month.
For cows, the age must be at least three years (entering the fourth year), and for camels, it must be at least five years (entering the sixth year). There is no strict requirement for clearly entering these ages.
Suhaib Webb
Sources:
• Fawakih al-Dawani: 1/581
• Al-Masaalik in Sharh Muwatta’ Malik: 5/169
• Maliki Fiqh and its Evidences by Sh. Habib Tahir 2/227