that does not suffice. If someone were to ask: “If a camel develops the teeth that mark it as a thaniyyah before five years, or a cow before two years, do we determine its status as a thaniyyah by its having developed those teeth, or by its age in years?” We say: This is rare, and rare cases have no ruling. The apparent meaning of the scholars’ statements—may Allah have mercy on them—is that the determining factor is the number of years: a camel that has completed five years is a thaniyyah; a cow that has completed two years is a thaniyyah; and a goat that has completed one year is a thaniyyah, whether it has developed those teeth or not.

His statement, “For sheep, half of that,” means half a year: six lunar months. No consideration is given to non-lunar months, for Allah says:

“They ask you about the new moons. Say, ‘They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj.’” [al-Baqarah: 189]

If someone asks you, “Does a sheep that is eight months old suffice?”

The answer is that it depends: if it is a sheep, then yes; but if it is a goat, then no, because it must be a thaniyyah.

Some scholars have mentioned that one sign that a sheep is old enough to suffice is that its wool lies flat along its back. A young lamb’s wool stands upright, so when it begins to lie flat, this is a sign that it has become a jadh‘ah. However, this is not a definitive sign in the sense that it is relied upon; rather, the date is what is relied upon. Thus, if one says, “This lamb was born on the first day of Muharram,” it completes six months at the end of Jumada al-Thani.

If someone asks: “Is the seller’s statement sufficient, or must the buyer tell the seller to bring witnesses?”

The answer is that it depends: if the seller is trustworthy, then his statement is accepted, because this is religious information, like information concerning the entry of the prayer time or the setting of