Details about animals of sacrifice

<span class="content1"><strong>Minimum age of an animal for Qurbani </strong> <p>What should be the age of an animal for Qurbani? There is a Hadith about this in Sahih Muslim Vol. 2 Pg. No. 155. (Hadith No:1963)</p> <p>Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Jabir (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Slaughter only a goat of 1 year of age, cow of 2 years, camel of 5 years, but if there is a problem, then you may slaughter a goat of 6 months.</p> <p>In the light of this Hadith, the Muhaddithin (Hadith experts) and the Fuqaha (Islamic Law Experts) have said that the minimum age of a goat is 1 year, of a cow 2 years and of a camel 5 years. Qurbani of an animal less than this age is impermissible (Najayiz). If a goat of 6 months is so fat and plump that it seems to be of 1 year of age, then its Qurbani is correct. If the age of these animals is more than the mentioned age, then it is not only permissible but preferred. If the goat is of less than 1 year, the cow less than 2 years and the camel less than 5 years, then the Qurbani of such an animal is impermissible, as given in Fatawa A&rsquo;alamgiri, Vol. 5, Kitab Ul Adhiya, Babil Khamis.</p> <strong>Those defects in the animal which make a qurbani invalid. </strong> <p>Through a Qurbani, the slave of Allah Ta&rsquo;ala desires Allah&rsquo;s proximity. Thus, for the Qurbani such an animal should be selected, which is complete in every respect. It should not be blind, lame, ill or weak.</p> <p>That animal&rsquo;s Qurbani, which has any of the following defects is not valid. Blind, either in one eye or both, lame, so weak that it cannot walk up to the sacrificial area, whose more than 1/3rd ears, tail is cut, whose more than 1/3rd eyesight is gone, toothless, that animal whose horns are broken from the base, but Qurbani of those animals who do not have horns from birth is valid.</p> <p>There is a Hadith is Musnad Imam Ahmed, Musnad e Baraa bin A&rsquo;azib, Translation: &ldquo;It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Baraa bin A&rsquo;azib (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was asked about those animals whose Qurbani should not be offered. The holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: 4. Bara bin A&rsquo;azib (May Allah be well pleased with him) says, My hand is small and less than the hand of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)</p> <p>1. A lame animal, whose lameness is apparent. <br /> 2. Blind in one eye, which is apparent. <br /> 3. Ill, whose illness is clear. <br /> 4. Weak and emaciated, whose bones do not have any marrow. <br /> &nbsp;</p> <p>This Hadith is also mentioned in Sunan Kubra lil Baihaqi.</p> <strong>Qurbani of a castrated goat </strong> <p>For Qurbani such an animal free from all defects should be selected. The animal should be perfect and plump. As far as Qurbani of a castrated goat (a goat whose testicles have been removed) is concerned, castration is not a defect in animals, so Qurbani of a castrated animal is not only valid, but better and preferred. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) offered the Qurbani of castrated goats, as given in Sunan Ibn Majah, Abwaab Ul Idhaahi Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), Pg. No. 225/226, Hadith No: 313.</p> <p>Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) that when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) decided to offer a Qurbani, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would buy big, plump, horned, black-and-white, castrated rams and would slaughter one on the behalf of those people of His Ummah, who have affirmed the Tauheed of Allah Ta&rsquo;ala and the Prophethood of Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and that conveyed the message (of Islam) and another on His own behalf and on the behalf of His Kinsfolk.</p> <p>As given in Fatawa A&rsquo;alamgiri, Vol. 5, Pg. No. 499. It is also mentioned in Tabyeen Ul Haqaaiq Vol. 6, Kitaab ul Adhhiya Pg. No. 479.</p> <p>Translation of Hadith: Imam A&rsquo;adham Abu Hanifa (May Allah be well pleased with him) said that Qurbani of a castrated animal is better, as its meat is good and tasty.</p> <strong>What to do if after buying the animal, some defect appears </strong> <p>If a person buys an animal and after that the animal develops such a defect, which will make the Qurbani invalid, then in such a condition the Shariah describes 2 situations:</p> <p>1. If the person is affluent and is offering a Wajib Qurbani, then the defective animal should not be offered as Qurbani and another perfect animal should be bought. <br /> 2. If the person is not affluent and is not Sahab e Nisaab, but is offering only Nafl Qurbani, then as the animal has been marked for Qurbani, they should offer the same animal in Qurbani, even though it has developed a defect.</p> <p>As given in Durre Mukhtaar, Vol. 5, pg no. 229. <strong>What to do if the animal&rsquo;s leg is wounded? </strong></p> <p>If an animal either because of a wound or for some other reason walks only on 3 legs and does not use the 4th leg, then Qurbani of such an animal is not valid. If it is using all 4 of its legs, then Qurbani of such an animal is valid.</p> <p>As given in Durre Mukhtaar Vol. 5, Kitabul Adhiya, Pg. No. 227</p> </span>