Age of Cattle for a Valid Sacrifice According to Islam, and the Conditions for Sacrificial Animals

Dream – The age of cattle for sacrifice is important for every Muslim who wants to perform the act of sacrifice. The selection of  livestock for sacrifice must be carefully considered to ensure compliance with Islamic law and the validity of the worship being performed.

There are conditions for valid sacrificial animals on the day of Eid al-Adha. These conditions must be the primary consideration and should not only focus on price or weight of the animal to be sacrificed.

Not all livestock animals such as cows, buffaloes, sheep, or camels can be used as sacrificial animals. Muslims must examine the physical condition of the sacrificial animal. The animal for sacrifice must be chosen from the best breed and have all its body parts intact, without any defects.

Furthermore, the age of the sacrificial animal must also be considered. The age requirement for cows and goats for sacrifice is different. So, what is the age of cows for sacrifice that is valid according to Islam? Read the full explanation below as summarized by Dream from various reliable sources.

Conditions for Valid Sacrificial Animals

The selection of livestock as sacrificial animals must be done carefully by considering the requirements according to Islamic rules. The sacrificial animal must meet the following requirements before it can be slaughtered. The requirements for sacrificial animals are as follows:

1. Type of Livestock

The animal for sacrifice must be chosen from the types of livestock mentioned in the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad. Although poultry and birds are considered livestock, they cannot be used as sacrificial animals. The valid options for sacrificial animals are camels, cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep. These animals must be healthy, fat, and without any defects in order to be used as sacrificial animals.

2. Age of Animals for Sacrifice

The age of cows for a valid sacrifice according to Islam will be discussed in this article. Every Muslim who will perform the act of sacrifice must pay attention to the age of the animal to be sacrificed. Make sure it meets the requirements or can be determined by the growth of a permanent set of teeth. The following are the valid ages for livestock to be used as sacrificial animals:

• Camels must be at least 5 years old or have entered the 6th year.
• Cows must be at least 2 years old or have entered the 3rd year.
• Buffaloes must be at least 2 years old or have entered the 3rd year.
• Goats must be at least 1 year old or have entered the 2nd year.
• Sheep must be at least 6 months old if it is difficult to find a 1-year-old sheep.

Therefore, if the age of the animal has not reached the mentioned ages above, it can be postponed until the animal is ready for sacrifice.

3. Body Condition of the Animal

The sacrificial animal must be chosen from the best breed. It must also be healthy and without any defects. Sick animals are not allowed to be slaughtered for sacrifice. You must choose a healthy, fat, energetic, large, meaty, and physically perfect animal.

Therefore, Dream friends need to know some conditions that make an animal ineligible for sacrifice, which are:

• Blind in one or both eyes.
• Lame in one or both legs.
• Has a visibly apparent disease.
• Very thin body and little meat.
• Partial or complete loss of one or both ears.
• Partial or complete loss of one or both tails.

If an animal has any of the above conditions, it is not valid to be used as a sacrificial animal. However, if the animal has horns and the horns are broken, this condition can still be considered valid for sacrifice.

4. Ownership Status of the Sacrificial Animal

The ownership status of the animal to be slaughtered during Eid al-Adha must be clear. Whether the animal is self-raised or purchased, it must be done in a halal manner. If the sacrificial animal is stolen, it is not valid to be sacrificed.

In addition, if there is an animal that has been inherited for generations, so the ownership is unclear, it is also not valid to be used as a sacrificial animal. Therefore, it is important for Muslims to pay attention to a clear ownership status and see who is selling it.

Age of Cattle for Sacrifice

The age of cattle for a valid sacrifice according to Islam has actually been mentioned in the previous discussion. The age of cattle for a valid sacrifice is at least 2 years old or has entered the third year.

The price of cattle is certainly expensive for people with limited income. That's why we are allowed to pool our resources if we want to sacrifice a cow. Because one cow can be for the reward of seven people. One cow can be shared by a maximum of seven people. As for camels, it can be shared by a maximum of ten people.

The ideal age of cattle for sacrifice is actually when they have entered the third year. So, a few months above the minimum age of 2 years. Dream friends can choose cattle for sacrifice that are 2 years old plus a few months.