Is there a specific age for the sacrificial animal? And is it permissible to sacrifice a cow that is a year and a half old as an Udhiyah?
The scholars have agreed that the Shari'ah has specified a certain age for the sacrificial animal (Udhiyah), below which it is not permissible to slaughter, and whoever slaughters an animal younger than that, their sacrifice will not be valid. The Hadiths have indicated this; the Hadith of Al-Bara' ibn 'Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) indicated that a Jadha'ah (six-month-old) from goats is not sufficient for sacrifice, and the Hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) indicated that it is necessary to slaughter a Musinnah (mature animal) except for sheep, for which a Jadha'ah is sufficient. The jurists have agreed that the sacrificial animal must be a Thaniyyah (two-year-old) or older from camels, cattle, and goats, and a Jadha'ah (six-month-old) or older from sheep. They differed in specifying these ages: a Jadha' from sheep is what has completed six months according to the Hanafis and Hanbalis, and one year according to the Malikis and Shafi'is. A Thaniyy from goats is what has completed one year according to the Hanafis, Malikis, and Hanbalis, and two years according to the Shafi'is. A Thaniyy from cattle is what has completed two years according to the Hanafis, Shafi'is, and Hanbalis, and three years according to the Malikis. A Thaniyy from camels is what has completed five years according to all of them.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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