Qurbani Animal Age Requirements
Total Hadiths 22
Prophetic Hadiths on Qurbani Animal Age Requirements
These authentic prophetic traditions clarify the specific criteria regarding the age of animals intended for sacrifice during Id-al-Adha. The texts instruct believers to sacrifice a mature, grown-up animal (Musinnah) under normal circumstances. According to Islamic scholars, a concession is explicitly granted if obtaining a mature animal proves too difficult, allowing the sacrifice of a younger ram (Jadha'a, generally more than six months of age). Furthermore, multiple narrations document cases where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) personally distributed sacrificial stock among his companions and directly permitted individuals to offer younger sheep or kid goats that remained. These narrations emphasize adhering strictly to the established guidelines of maturity while accepting the structural exceptions sanctioned by the Prophet (ﷺ) to ensure the sacrifice remains accessible.
وَحَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الدَّارِمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ حَسَّانَ - أَخْبَرَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ سَلاَّمٍ - حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي بَعْجَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ، اللَّهِ أَنَّ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ عَامِرٍ الْجُهَنِيَّ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَسَمَ ضَحَايَا بَيْنَ أَصْحَابِهِ . بِمِثْلِ مَعْنَاهُ .
This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of 'Uqba b. 'Amir al-Juhan with a slight change of wording.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1965cIn-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 23USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 22, Hadith 4840
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي شُعَيْبٍ الْحَرَّانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَذْبَحُوا إِلاَّ مُسِنَّةً إِلاَّ أَنْ يَعْسُرَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَذْبَحُوا جَذَعَةً مِنَ الضَّأْنِ " .
Jabir Narrated from:
Narrated Jabir: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: Sacrifice only a full-grown animal unless it is difficult for you, in which case sacrifice a lamb.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2797In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 10English translation : Book 15, Hadith 2791
حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ حَيَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنْبَأَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لاَ تَذْبَحُوا إِلاَّ مُسِنَّةً إِلاَّ أَنْ يَعْسُرَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَذْبَحُوا جَذَعَةً مِنَ الضَّأْنِ " .
Jabir Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Do not slaughter anything but a Musinnah,* unless there is none available, in which case you can slaughter a Jadha’a among sheep.”
[2] Cows and sheep that have reached three years. See An-Nihâyah .Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3141In-book reference : Book 26, Hadith 22English translation : Vol. 4, Book 26, Hadith 3141
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَذْبَحُوا إِلاَّ مُسِنَّةً إِلاَّ أَنْ يَعْسُرَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَذْبَحُوا جَذَعَةً مِنَ الضَّأْنِ " .
Jabir Narrated from:
Jabir reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Sacrifice only a grown-up animal, unless it is difficult for you, in which case sacrifice a ram (of even less than a year, but more than six months' age).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1963In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 19USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 22, Hadith 4836
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ سَيْفٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ أَعْيَنَ - وَأَبُو جَعْفَرٍ - يَعْنِي النُّفَيْلِيَّ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَذْبَحُوا إِلاَّ مُسِنَّةً إِلاَّ أَنْ يَعْسُرَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَذْبَحُوا جَذَعَةً مِنَ الضَّأْنِ " .
Jabir Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'Do not slaughter anything but a Musinnah, unless that is difficult, in which case you can slaughter a Jadh'ah sheep.'
[1] For the definition of these terms, see the Book of Zakâh.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4378In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 18English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4383
وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْخَيْرِ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَعْطَاهُ غَنَمًا يَقْسِمُهَا عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ ضَحَايَا فَبَقِيَ عَتُودٌ فَذَكَرَهُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " ضَحِّ بِهِ أَنْتَ " . قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ عَلَى صَحَابَتِهِ .
'Uqbah bin 'Amir Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave the gifts of goats to be distributed amongst his Companions. They sacrificed them, but a lamb of one year of age was left. (Someone) made a mention of that to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), whereupon he said: You sacrifice it.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1965aIn-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 21USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 22, Hadith 4838
أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ دُرُسْتَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْمَاعِيلَ، - وَهُوَ الْقَنَّادُ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بَعْجَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَسَّمَ بَيْنَ أَصْحَابِهِ ضَحَايَا فَصَارَتْ لِي جَذَعَةٌ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَارَتْ لِي جَذَعَةٌ . فَقَالَ " ضَحِّ بِهَا " .
'Uqbah bin 'Amir Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah divided some sacrificial animals among his Companions, and I got a Jadh'ah sheep. I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I got a Jadh'ah sheep.' He said: 'Sacrifice it."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4380In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 20English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4385
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ بَعْجَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْجُهَنِيِّ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ قَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَ أَصْحَابِهِ أَضَاحِيَّ فَأَصَابَنِي جَذَعَةٌ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَصَابَتْنِي جَذَعَةٌ . فَقَالَ " ضَحِّ بِهَا " .
'Uqbah bin 'Amir Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah divided some sacrificial animals among his Companions, and I got a Jadh'ah sheep. I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I got a Jadh'ah sheep.' He said: 'Sacrifice it.""
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4381In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 21English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4386
أَخْبَرَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ، عَنِ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرٌو، عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ الأَشَجِّ، عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خُبَيْبٍ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ ضَحَّيْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِجَذَعٍ مِنَ الضَّأْنِ .
'Uqbah bin 'Amir Narrated from:
We sacrificed a Jadh'ah sheep with the Messenger of Allah."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4382In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 22English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4387
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْخَيْرِ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَعْطَاهُ غَنَمًا يَقْسِمُهَا عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ ضَحَايَا فَبَقِيَ عَتُودٌ أَوْ جَدْىٌ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " ضَحِّ بِهِ أَنْتَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . قَالَ وَكِيعٌ الْجَذَعُ مِنَ الضَّأْنِ يَكُونُ ابْنَ سِتَّةِ أَوْ سَبْعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ .وَقَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ، غَيْرِ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ قَسَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ضَحَايَا فَبَقِيَ جَذَعَةٌ فَسَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " ضَحِّ بِهَا أَنْتَ " . حَدَّثَنَا بِذَلِكَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ الدَّسْتَوَائِيُّ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ عَنْ بَعْجَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بَدْرٍ عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ .
'Uqbah bin 'Amir Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Gave Him Sheep To Distribute Among His Companions As A Sacrifice. "There Remained A Young Male Kid Or A Young Billy Goat, So I Mentioned That To The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) And He Said: 'Sacrifice It For Yourself.'" Waki' Said: "The Jadha' Among Sheep Is Seven Or Six Months."It Has Been Reported That 'Uqbah Bin Amir Said: "The Prophet (ﷺ) Distributed The Sacrificial Animals And I Was Left With A Jadha', So I Asked The Prophet (ﷺ) About It And He Said: 'Sacrifice It For Yourself.'" (Another Chain) With This Hadith.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1500In-book reference : Book 19, Hadith 10,11English translation : Vol. 3, Book 17, Hadith 1500
