Is a *Jadh'ah* (young animal before the age of one year for sheep/goats) permissible for sacrifice?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Sacrifices (Uḍḥiyah)
Primary text
The *Jadh'ah* from sheep is permissible for sacrifice based on the Hadith of Mujash' bin Sulaym, where the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that the *Jadh'ah* fulfills the requirement of what the *Thani* (animal meeting the full age) fulfills. Other narrations from Abu Hurairah and others also support this permissibility for sheep. However, the *Jadh'ah* from other species (non-sheep) is not permissible. This is established by the Prophet's statement: "Do not slaughter except a *Musinnah*, but if it is difficult for you, then slaughter a *Jadh'ah* from the sheep." The statement made by Abu Burdah bin Niyar, where the Prophet permitted his *Jadh'ah* for him alone, is understood to be specific to sheep based on the established difference.
Supporting text
Malik, Al-Layth, Al-Shafi'i, Abu Ubayd, Abu Thawr, and the Ashab ar-Ra'y maintain that the *Jadh'ah* is not sufficient. Ibn Umar and Az-Zuhri rule that the *Jadh'ah* is not valid because it is not valid for non-sheep species, thus it is not valid for itself like a lamb. Al-Ata' and Al-Awza'i state that the *Jadh'ah* is invalid across all species, citing the narration that the *Jadh'ah* fulfills what the *Thani* fulfills, which they interpret restrictively. Ibrahim Al-Harbi supported limiting the *Jadh'ah*'s validity to sheep because only sheep *Jadh'ah* are sexually mature enough to breed before reaching the *Thani* age.