Chapter on the Hajj Offering (hady) and the ʿEid Sacrifice (uḍḥiyah)

The most meritorious animals for this act are camels, followed by cattle, then sheep and goats. The offering is only valid if the animal has attained the required age: a six-month-old lamb1 for sheep, and a thanī animal of any other species. Thus, camels must be five years2 old, cattle two, goats one, and sheep six months. One sheep suffices for a single person, whereas one camel or cow suffices for seven.

It is not valid to offer an animal that is blind in one eye, severely emaciated, obviously lame, toothless, earless, sick, or has a broken horn. By contrast, an animal that was born without a tail, is naturally without horns, is castrated—as long as it is not completely emasculated3—or has lost less than half of its ear or horn remains acceptable.

The sunnah for camels is to perform nahr while the animal is standing, its left foreleg tied, plunging a spear into the hollow between the base of the neck and the chest. Other animals are slaughtered by cutting the throat, although reversing the two methods is permissible. One pronounces: “In the name of Allah; Allah is greatest. O Allah, this is from You and for You.” The owner should carry out the slaughter himself or appoint a Muslim to do it on his behalf, and he should witness the act.