A musinnah camel is one that is five years old going on six. A cow is two years old going on three. A ram and a goat are one year going on two, but a mature six-month-old ram is permissible if one cannot afford the musinnah.
Again, the musinnah of a ram is one year, but the concession for one who cannot afford it—and for others—is the jadhaʿah (six-month-old sheep).
This is applicable to sheep alone, not goats (which must be at least one year old).
Proofs:
عَنْ جَابِرٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لا تَذْبَحُوا إِلا مُسِنَّةً إِلا أَنْ يَعْسُرَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَذْبَحُوا جَذَعَةً مِنْ الضَّأْنِ.
“Do not slaughter (for sacrifice) except a musinnah, unless it becomes difficult for you, then you may slaughter a jadhaʿah from the sheep.”(Muslim)
The ḥadīth below excludes a six-month-old goat (maʿz) after it was specifically allowed for someone:
On the authority of al-Barā’ ibn ʿĀzib (may Allah be pleased with both him and his father), he said:
'A maternal uncle of mine named Abū Burdah slaughtered (his sacrificial animal) before the (Eid) prayer. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:
“Your sheep is (just) meat.”
He said: “O Messenger of Allah, I have a young goat (jadhaʿah) that was raised at home.”
In another narration: “A young she-goat (ʿanāq) that is a jadhaʿah.”
In another narration in al-Bukhārī: “I have a jadhaʿah that is better than two musinnahs. Shall I slaughter it?”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Slaughter it, but it will not be valid for anyone after you.”
In another narration: “It will not suffice for anyone after you.” (al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
Al-Imām an-Nawawī, rahimahullah, said in Sharḥ Muslim:
“The musinnah is the thanīyyah (mature animal) of each type—camels, cattle, and goats—and anything older than that.
This is a clear statement that the jadhaʿ (younger animal) from anything other than sheep is not permissible in any situation.”
Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr (rahimahullāh) said:
“I do not know of any difference of opinion that the jadhaʿ from goats and from everything else that is sacrificed besides sheep is not permissible. What is permissible from all of them is only the thanīyy (mature) and above. As for the jadhaʿ from sheep, it is allowed due to the established Sunnah.”
— at-Tamhīd (10/267)
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn (rahimahullāh) said:
“So the thanīyy (mature animal) of camels is the one that has completed five years;
the thanīyy of cattle is the one that has completed two years;
the thanīyy of goats is the one that has completed one year;
and the jadhaʿ is the one that has completed half a year.
Thus, it is not valid to offer as a sacrifice anything less than a thanīyy from camels, cattle, and goats,
nor anything less than a jadhaʿ from sheep.” (Aḥkām al-Uḍḥiyyah)
Al-Lajnah ad-Dā’imah said (Fatwa no. 11/377):
“The sharʿī (legal) evidences indicate that what suffices from sheep (ḍa’n) is that which has completed six months; from goats (maʿz), what has completed one year; from cattle (baqar), what has completed two years; and from camels (ibil), what has completed five years.
Anything less than that is not sufficient as hady (sacrificial offering during Hajj) or uḍḥiyyah (Eid sacrifice).
This represents the facilitated type of hady, for the evidences from the Qur’an and Sunnah explain and complement one another.”
The four madhāhib also have various opinions regarding the required ages, but following what is clearly indicated in the Sunnah is better.
Allah knows best.
Aboo Aamir
