Is there a sound, authentic hadith that specifies the minimum age for sacrificial animals (adhaahi) from sheep, cattle, and camels, or did the scholars derive that by analogy with the sacrificial animals offered in Hajj (hady)? And if there is, what is it?

The sacrifice is valid with an aged animal from camels, cattle, and sheep, which is a thaniyyah (one-year-old) or older. The jadha' (six-month-old) from sheep is what has completed six months, and this is an exception only in case of difficulty. A jadha' from other than sheep is absolutely not permissible.

The age of an aged animal (musinnah) is: - Sheep: What has completed one year. - Goats: What has completed one year. - Cattle and buffalo: What has completed two years. - Camels: What has completed five years, and some say four years and has entered the fifth.

The hady (sacrificial animal) in Hajj has the same conditions as the sacrifice (udhiyah) regarding age and freedom from defects.