Is it necessary for the cattle to be sacrificed to have completed the age of two? Will it be calculated based on lunar year or solar year if it is necessary?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The age of the animals to be sacrificed is calculated based on lunar year. For instance, an animal that was born on the first day of eid al-adha of 2007 can be sacrificed on the second day of eid al-adha of 2009 since it will have completed the age of two.   

The animals that can be sacrificed are sheep, goats, cattle and camels. The animals other than these cannot be sacrificed. Both the females and males of these animals can be sacrificed. Sheep and goats must not be sacrificed before they have completed the age of one, cattle the age of two and camels the age of five. These ages are the common view of all madhhabs. (see W. Zuhayli, al-Fiqhul-Islami, 3/315) However, according to Hanafi and Hanbali madhhabs, a lamb that is six-seven months old can be sacrificed if it is as big as a sheep of one year old. However, a goat has to be one year old to be sacrificed.

A sheep and a goat can be sacrificed for only one person. A cow or bull (cattle) and a camel can be sacrificed for one person or up to seven (including seven) people.

It is stated in Fatawal-Azhar that the determination of the age of the animals to be sacrificed was made by the Prophet (pbuh) and that there was no place for different interpretations regarding the issue. (see Fatawal-Azhar-Shamila- 1/79)

The fatwa of contemporary scholars is as follows:

It is necessary for a sheep to have completed the age of six months, a goat the age of one, cattle the age of two and a camel the age of five to be sacrificed. (see Fatwal-Lajnatil-Muasira lil-Buhuthil-Ilmiyya wal-Ifta-Shamila- 13/447)

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