What Animals Are Valid for Qurbani? Conditions and Rules

On the morning of Eid al-Adha, the act of Qurbani connects every Muslim who performs it to one of the oldest traditions in Islamic history — the willingness of Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice what he loved most in obedience to Allah. But before the sacrifice can be made, a foundational question must be answered: which animals are valid for Qurbani, and what conditions must they meet?

What Animals Can Be Used for Qurbani?

The animals valid for Qurbani are limited to specific domesticated livestock, defined in Islamic scholarship as al-anʿam — the animals mentioned in the Quran in the context of sacrifice and provision. Surah Al-Hajj (22:34) states: “And for every nation We have appointed a rite of sacrifice, that they may mention the name of Allah over the livestock He has provided for them.”

The four schools of thought — Hanafi, Maliki, Shafiʼi, and Hanbali — are in agreement that valid Qurbani animals are limited to the following:

Sheep and goats (al-ghanam) — a single sheep or goat counts as a complete Qurbani for one person and their household.

Cattle (al-baqar) — cows, bulls, and buffalo. A single cattle animal is shared among up to seven people, each receiving the reward of a full Qurbani.

Camels (al-ibil) — a single camel is also shared among up to seven people.

No other animal — including chickens, fish, or horses — is valid for Qurbani according to any of the four schools.

Age and Physical Conditions for Valid Qurbani Animals

Beyond species, Islamic scholarship specifies minimum age requirements and physical conditions that must be met. These are drawn from hadith and developed in detail by the four schools.

The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Do not sacrifice except a mature animal, unless it is difficult for you, in which case you may sacrifice a young sheep.” (Sahih Muslim, hadith 1963)

Based on this and other narrations, scholars have established the following minimum ages:

Sheep — at least one year old. The Hanafi school permits a younger sheep (jadhaʼ) if it is large enough to be mistaken for a one-year-old at a distance. The Maliki, Shafiʼi, and Hanbali schools require the animal to have completed one full year.

Goats — at least one year old, across all four schools.

Cattle — at least two years old, across all four schools.

Camels — at least five years old, across all four schools.

The Prophet (PBUH) also identified four conditions that disqualify an animal: “Four animals are not permitted for sacrifice: a one-eyed animal whose defect is obvious, a sick animal whose sickness is obvious, a lame animal whose lameness is obvious, and an emaciated animal with no marrow in its bones.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, hadith 2802; confirmed in Sunan al-Tirmidhi, hadith 1497)

What Conditions Disqualify a Qurbani Animal?

Definite disqualifiers — agreed upon by all schools: A blind animal, or one with obvious vision impairment in one eye. An animal with an obvious, debilitating illness. An animal with a severe limp that prevents it from walking to the place of slaughter normally. An animal so emaciated that it has no fat or marrow remaining.

Disqualifiers with some scholarly variation: An animal missing more than a third of its ear or tail — the Hanafi school holds this disqualifies the animal; the Maliki and Hanbali schools consider the threshold to be the majority of the ear or tail being missing. An animal born without ears — the Hanafi school considers this valid; the Shafiʼi and Hanbali schools consider it disqualified.

Conditions that do NOT disqualify: Minor physical blemishes, such as a small injury that has healed, or the natural absence of horns in an animal born without them. Imam Ibn Qudamah, the Hanbali scholar, confirms in al-Mughni that a naturally hornless animal (ajamm) is valid for Qurbani, as is an animal whose horns have been broken but whose wound has healed.

The rules exist so that the sacrifice is given correctly. Give your Qurbani this Eid al-Adha through Human Appeal — sourced to the right standards, fulfilled on your behalf.

A Genuine Scholarly Disagreement: Sharing a Sheep or Goat

One of the most commonly asked questions concerns sharing: can multiple people share a single sheep or goat the same way seven people share a cow or camel?

The Hanafi school holds that a sheep or goat counts as a full Qurbani for one person only — it cannot be shared between two or more people for the purpose of fulfilling their individual Qurbani obligations, even if they contribute financially together. The Maliki, Shafiʼi, and Hanbali schools hold the same position.

There is, however, a distinction between fulfilling the obligation and sharing the reward. Imam al-Nawawi notes in Sharh Sahih Muslim that a person may make the intention to include their household in the reward of a single sheep — drawing on the practice of the Prophet (PBUH), who slaughtered one sheep on behalf of himself and his family (Sahih Muslim, hadith 1967). This is different from multiple people pooling funds to fulfill separate Qurbani obligations with one small animal.

If you follow a different school or are unsure which applies to you, it is worth consulting your local scholar or imam.

Giving Qurbani Through Human Appeal

For Muslims who want to ensure their Qurbani animal meets all the required conditions — correct species, minimum age, and physical health — giving through a trusted organisation removes the uncertainty. Human Appeal sources animals locally in each country of operation, ensuring they meet the age and health requirements established by Islamic scholarship.

Human Appeal distributed Qurbani across 41 countries in 2025, reaching over 1.17 million people. Animals are procured, slaughtered, and distributed by local teams on Eid al-Adha, with fresh meat going directly to families who may have no other source of protein during the celebration.

Every Qurbani Human Appeal carries out meets the conditions described in this guide. Give yours this Eid al-Adha and know it reaches a family in genuine need.

Sources

Quran: Surah Al-Hajj (22:34) — basis for the appointment of sacrifice and the mention of Allah’s name over livestock.

Sahih Muslim: Hadith 1963 — the Prophet (PBUH) on sacrificing a mature animal and the exception for young sheep. Hadith 1967 — the Prophet (PBUH) slaughtering one sheep on behalf of himself and his family.

Sunan Abu Dawud: Hadith 2802 — the four conditions that disqualify an animal from Qurbani.

Sunan al-Tirmidhi: Hadith 1497 — corroborating narration on the four disqualifying conditions.

Imam Ibn Qudamah: al-Mughni — confirmation that naturally hornless animals are valid for Qurbani.

Imam al-Nawawi: Sharh Sahih Muslim — on sharing the reward of a single sheep with one’s household.

Human Appeal: Internal programme report, 2025 — 41 countries, 1.17 million beneficiaries.

By Human Appeal

California, USA