Minimum Age of Goats for Sacrifice, and the Characteristics of Valid Sacrificial Animals According to Scholars

Dream – Soon, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha. This holiday is synonymous with the sacrifice of animals as commanded by Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. Islam also regulates which animals can be used as sacrificial animals. Including the important criteria that must be understood by those who will perform the sacrifice.

One of the animals used for sacrifice is goats. Before sacrificing, a Muslim must know the minimum age of goats that can be used for sacrifice. The age of the goats must be appropriate, not too young to be used as sacrificial animals.

This is why it is important for Muslims to understand the criteria for animals that are suitable for sacrifice. What is the minimum age of goats for sacrifice? Read the article below to answer questions about the minimum age of goats for sacrifice.

What is the Minimum Age of Goats for Sacrifice?

The minimum age of goats that can be used for sacrifice is one full year (12 months) according to the Hijri calendar. This means that the goats must have passed one annual cycle since birth. This age is set to ensure that the sacrificial animals are mature enough and have the required size for sacrifice.

It should be noted that this one-year age applies to sheep or lambs. As for ordinary goats or commonly known as Kacang goats, the minimum age to be used as sacrificial animals is 2 years entering the 3rd year.

The minimum age of goats for sacrifice is chosen to ensure that the goats have reached a more optimal size and physical condition for sacrifice. Unlike camels, cows, and buffaloes, sacrificing with goats is only intended for one person.

Hadith about the Minimum Age of Goats for Sacrifice

The minimum age of goats for sacrifice is determined based on a hadith narrated from Jabir radhiyallahu 'anhu.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Do not slaughter except musinnah [goats that have reached one year old and entered the second year]. Unless it is difficult for you, then slaughter jadza'ah [goats aged six months to one year] of the sheep kind," (Narrated by Muslim).

In addition to paying attention to the minimum age, sacrificial goats should also not be too old so that their meat is not too tough. Because usually the meat of old goats is not tender when cooked.

Characteristics of Invalid Sacrificial Animals

In addition to considering the minimum age of goats for sacrifice, Dream friends also need to carefully observe whether the goats meet the criteria for sacrifice. Sacrificial animals must be chosen from the best criteria. Because sacrificing is like sharing with others, it is only appropriate to sacrifice using the best selected livestock without any defects.

If the animal for sacrifice is defective and unhealthy, then Allah will not accept that sacrificial worship. We should remember the historical lesson of the son of Prophet Adam, that Allah did not accept the sacrifice from Qabil because he offered a skinny and defective goat.

To avoid mistakes in choosing sacrificial animals, it is better to pay attention to several criteria for sacrificial animals that are not valid to be used as sacrificial animals. Here are the characteristics of invalid sacrificial animals during Eid al-Adha:

1. Blind animals.
2. Limping animals.
3. Emaciated animals due to illness.
4. Animals with brain fluid loss.
5. Animals with cut ears.
6. Animals with cut tails.

Defects of Sacrificial Animals According to the Strongest Opinion

Meanwhile, it is explained in the book Asy-Syarhul Mumti' that there are five characteristics of sacrificial animals that are not valid to be slaughtered during Eid al-Adha.

According to Imam Nawawi, the characteristics of sacrificial animals that are not valid to be sacrificed are animals that are blind in both eyes even if the blindness is not clear.

The characteristics of sacrificial animals that are not valid to be sacrificed next are animals that fall from above and faint. While in a faint condition, this animal is not valid to be used as a sacrificial animal because it is clearly sick.

Then, animals that have a swollen abdomen due to excessive consumption of dates. These animals cannot pass gas and it is unknown whether they can survive or not. Unless the animal can finally pass gas and defecate. As long as it cannot defecate, the animal is considered defective because it is clearly sick.

Furthermore, animals that have one of their arms or legs or even all of them severed are also considered invalid for sacrifice. Because the condition of these animals is even worse than animals that are merely limping.

Finally, the characteristics of sacrificial animals that are not valid to be sacrificed are animals that cannot walk at all.