Not every animal is valid for Qurbani. Two things decide it: the animal’s age and its condition. This guide sets out what the Hadith says, what Hanafi fatwa sources say about ages, and where you should ask a scholar before deciding.
Which animals are valid
Qurbani is offered from livestock: goats and sheep, cattle (which Hanafi fatwa sources treat as including buffalo), and camels. The Quran refers to “sacrificial animals He has provided for them” (Quran 22:34). Qurbani Easy offers goat and buffalo options — see buffalo Qurbani for the buffalo ruling.
Qurbani Easy does not offer camel Qurbani.
Age: what the Hadith says
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, as reported by Jabir: “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)” (Sahih Muslim 1963, translation as shown on sunnah.com). The hadith sets the principle — a mature animal — and allows a younger ram only when a mature one is hard to find.
Age: the Hanafi minimums
For the exact numbers, Hanafi fatwa sources agree on the following (MuftiOnline.co.za citing Al-Durr al-Mukhtar, and Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago, both on islamqa.org):
| Animal | Minimum age (Hanafi) |
|---|---|
| Goat | 1 year |
| Sheep | 1 year. A sheep of 6 months is accepted only if it looks like a one-year-old when standing among one-year-old sheep |
| Cow, bull, ox, buffalo | 2 years |
| Camel | 5 years (not offered by Qurbani Easy) |
The six-month concession applies to sheep only, not goats. Other schools and fatwa bodies describe the minimum ages for sheep and goats differently. If you follow a school other than Hanafi, ask a scholar of your school rather than relying on this table.
Condition: the four defects
Al-Bara’ ibn Azib reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said four kinds of animals should be avoided in sacrifice: a one-eyed animal which has obviously lost the sight of one eye; a sick animal which is obviously sick; a lame animal which obviously limps; and an animal with a broken leg with no marrow. Abu Dawud explained the last as an animal that has no marrow, meaning a very lean animal (Sunan Abi Dawud 2802; graded Sahih by Al-Albani on sunnah.com).
Notice the word obvious in each case: the Hadith speaks of defects that are clear, not minor flaws. In the same narration, the man asking, Ubayd ibn Firuz, said he disliked an animal with a deficiency in the teeth, and al-Bara’ answered: “Leave what you detest, but do not make it illegal for anyone.” So a personal preference for a flawless animal is allowed, but it does not make other animals forbidden for others.
Other defects: ask a scholar
Scholars have discussed further defects — for example missing horns, torn ears or a missing tail — and the schools do not all rule alike. This guide does not give a ruling on those cases. If the animal you are considering has any visible defect beyond the four above, ask a scholar of your school before booking.
Check the other conditions too
The animal must also be slaughtered within the permitted days — see days and time of Qurbani — and the sacrifice must be done correctly; our guide on common mistakes that invalidate Qurbani covers frequent errors, and how to perform Qurbani covers the method. All rulings are gathered in the Qurbani rules hub. To book a goat or buffalo, use the Qurbani booking page.
Citation sources
- Sahih Muslim 1963 (Chapter: The age of sacrificial animals) — Jabir; checked on sunnah.com.
- Sunan Abi Dawud 2802 (Chapter: What Is Disliked For Udhiyyah) — Al-Bara’ ibn Azib; graded Sahih by Al-Albani; checked on sunnah.com.
- Quran 22:34 — checked on quran.com.
- Hanafi ages: MuftiOnline.co.za, “Age of the Qurbaani animal” (answered by Mufti Zakaria Makada, checked by Mufti Ebrahim Salejee, citing Al-Durr al-Mukhtar 6/321-322) and Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago, “Age of animals for Qurbani” (Mufti Waseem Khan), both via islamqa.org (Hanafi section).
- Madhab note: the age table is the Hanafi position only. Other schools differ; no claim about them is made here.
Roman Hindi mein padhein: Qurbani Ke Janwar Ki Umar Aur Aib