Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (7/425)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

His statement, “then sheep and goats”: sheep and goats include both sheep and goats.

“A thaniyyah (an animal of the legally specified age) is required for animals other than sheep: for camels, five years; for cattle, two years; for goats, one year; and for sheep, half of that. A single sheep or goat suffices for one person, while a camel or cow suffices for seven …

His statement, “Nothing suffices except a jadh‘ah (a sheep in its second year) of sheep, or a thaniyyah of other animals.”

This is the second of the conditions of the udhiyah: the animal must have reached the age stipulated by the Sacred Law. If it is younger than this, it does not suffice, for the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “Do not sacrifice anything but a mature animal, unless that is difficult for you, in which case sacrifice a jadh‘ah of sheep.” (1) He specifically mentioned sheep rather than goats because their meat is more palatable. Thus, his words, “Do not sacrifice anything but a mature animal,” mean a thaniyyah, “unless that is difficult for you, in which case sacrifice a jadh‘ah of sheep.” If it is younger than this, it does not suffice.

For this reason, when Abu Burdah ibn Niyar—may Allah be pleased with him—said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have a young female goat that is dearer to me than two sheep. Will it suffice on my behalf?” he replied, “Yes, but it will not suffice for anyone after you.” (2) A young female goat is one that is four months old. This shows that the animal must reach the age stipulated by the Sacred Law. The requirement that it be from the livestock animals and that it reach the legally stipulated age shows us that the purpose of the udhiyah is not merely the meat; otherwise, both young and old animals would suffice.

His statement, “For camels, five years”: that is, the age required for a camel to suffice is five years. Anything under five years does not suffice, whether as an udhiyah or a hady, when mentioned without qualification, because a camel does not become a thaniyyah until it has completed five years.

His statement, “For cattle, two years; and for goats, one year”: thus, anything younger than

(1) Its source documentation was given previously on p. 89. (2) Narrated by al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Adahi, “Chapter: Whoever Slaughters before the Prayer Must Repeat It,” no. 5563; and Muslim, Kitab al-Adahi, “Chapter: Its Proper Time,” no. 1961, on the authority of al-Bara ibn Azib, may Allah be pleased with him.

وقوله: «ثم غنم»، الغنم يشمل الضأن والمعز. وثَنِيٌّ سِواه فَالإبِلُ خَمْسٌ والبَقَرُ سَنَتَانِ، والمَعِزُ سَنَةٌ، والضَّأنُ نِصْفُهَا، وَتُجْزِئُ الشَّاةُ عَن وَاحِدٍ، والبَدَنَةُ والبَقَرَة عَنْ سَبْعَةٍ ......... قوله: «ولا يجزئ فيها إلا جذع ضأن وثني سواه». هذا الشرط الثاني من شروط الأضحية أن تكون قد بلغت السن المعتبرة شرعاً، فإن كانت دونه لم تجزئ، لقول النبي ﷺ: «لا تذبحوا إلا مسنة إلا أن تعسر عليكم فتذبحوا جذعة من الضأن» (١)، وخص الضأن دون المعز لأنه أطيب لحماً، فقوله: «لا تذبحوا إلا مسنة» أي ثنية «إلا إن تعسر عليكم فتذبحوا جذعة من الضأن»، فإن كان دون ذلك فإنها لا تجزئ، ولهذا لما قال أبو بردة بن نيار ﵁: يا رسول الله إن عندي عناقاً هي أحب إلي من شاتين أفتجزئ عني؟ قال: «نعم ولن تجزئ عن أحد بعدك» (٢)، والعناق الصغيرة من المعز التي لها أربعة أشهر، وهذا يدل على أنه لا بد من بلوغ السن المعتبر شرعاً، واشتراط أن تكون من بهيمة الأنعام، وأن تبلغ السن المعتبر شرعاً يدلنا على أنه ليس المقصود من الأضحية مجرد اللحم، وإلا لأجزأت بالصغير والكبير. قوله: «فالإبل خمس»، أي: السن المعتبر لإجزاء الإبل خمس سنين، فما دون الخمس لا يجزئ أضحية ولا هدياً عند الإطلاق؛ لأن الإبل لا تثني إلا إذا تم لها خمس سنين. قوله: «والبقر سنتان، والمعز سنة»، فلا يجزئ ما دون

(١) سبق تخريجه ص (٨٩). (٢) أخرجه البخاري في الأضاحي/ باب من ذبح قبل الصلاة أعاد (٥٥٦٣)؛ ومسلم في الأضاحي/ باب وقتها (١٩٦١) عن البراء بن عازب ﵁.