Aqiqah Animal Requirements: Age and Disqualifying Faults

An aqiqah animal must meet the same age requirement as a qurbani animal, and be free of four clear faults: blindness in one eye, lameness, sickness, and emaciation so severe the animal has no marrow left. Any animal younger than the required age, or carrying one of these faults, means the aqiqah simply does not occur, whatever the occasion or intention.

Most people ask about the timing and number of aqiqah animals, and few ask about the animal itself. That is strange, because if the timing is missed you can still make it up, but if the animal does not meet the requirements, the aqiqah never took place at all.

What age is sufficient for an aqiqah animal?

Most scholars hold that whatever is sufficient for qurbani is sufficient for aqiqah, stated explicitly in the fatwa Time of Slaughtering Qurbani and the Faults That Disqualify It (Arabic). The required age for each type is set out in the research The Age That Must Be Observed for Qurbani (Arabic):

Type	Sufficient age
Sheep (lamb)	Six months, fully completed
Goat (young goat)	One full year
Cattle	Two full years
Camel	Five full years

Note the difference between sheep and goats. Many people buy a young goat and assume it works like a lamb, but it does not count until it has completed a full year.

What faults prevent an aqiqah from counting?

Reported from al Bara ibn Azib, may Allah be pleased with him, when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked what should be avoided in sacrificial animals, he pointed with his hand and said: "Four: a one eyed animal whose blindness is obvious, a lame animal whose limp is obvious, a sick animal whose sickness is obvious, and an emaciated animal with no marrow left." Narrated by Abu Dawud and al Nasa'i.

A fatwa from Ibn Baz states that this ruling explicitly covers aqiqah: "These four do not count for qurbani, nor for the offerings during Hajj, nor for aqiqah, which is slaughtered for the newborn on the seventh day, none of these count with any of these faults."

The word "obvious" matters here. A minor fault that is not visible does not disqualify, the point is a clear fault that any observer can see.

"Emaciated with no marrow" describes an animal so weak and thin that the marrow has gone from its bones. The same fatwa adds a fifth type the Shaykh favors, an animal missing most of its horn or ear. This means the list of disqualifying faults for aqiqah is wider than many assume, not limited to the well known four.

Why does the religion require a specific age instead of just relying on size?

Because size can be deceiving. A lamb fattened on heavy feed can look large while being younger than the required age, and a thin young goat from a small breed might have completed a full year despite its appearance. The religious standard is actual age, not visual impression, and this protects the buyer from an animal that looks suitable while actually failing to count.

Our view is that this is exactly the hardest part for an ordinary buyer, confirming the age just by looking, especially when ordering remotely without seeing the animal in person. This gap between real age and apparent size applies across all four types, sheep and goats as well as cattle and camels, since even the larger animals can look big while still under the required age.

Are there disliked faults that do not prevent the aqiqah from counting?

Such as a cut ear or a broken horn. Most scholars view these as disliked while still counting, and it is best to avoid them since this is an occasion of devotion, but if you have no other option the aqiqah is still valid and there is no harm.

Does it matter whether the animal is male or female?

Both count with no difference, and some scholars recommended a male for aqiqah. What matters is meeting the age and being free of faults, not the sex of the animal.

Does someone need to witness the animal's soundness at the time of slaughter?

There is no religious requirement for an official witness, and the responsibility falls on whoever handles the purchase and slaughter to confirm the requirements are met before execution. But the more transparency there is at this step, the more reassured the owner of the aqiqah feels, especially in an act of worship like aqiqah where showing joy rather than doubt is recommended. This is the same logic that makes a filmed clip more meaningful than a plain text notice saying the slaughter is done.

What we do at Qurba

Animals are chosen at the age required for each type, and inspected for the four faults before execution. We will say it plainly: you cannot verify this yourself while ordering from your phone, and that is exactly why the filmed clip and the tracking page exist, so you see the animal before and after execution rather than taking our word alone. The name you write, the newborn's name or whoever you specify, is spoken aloud at the slaughter and shown in the same clip.

See available animals and prices

Questions people ask

Does a young goat aged eight months count for aqiqah?

No. Goats do not count until they have completed a full year, unlike sheep, which are sufficient at six months.

Are the four disqualifying faults for qurbani the same for aqiqah?

Yes, a fatwa from Ibn Baz states plainly that a one eyed, lame, sick, or emaciated animal does not count for either qurbani or aqiqah.

Does a minor limp prevent the aqiqah from counting?

No, what matters is an obvious, clear fault that an observer can see, while a minor limp that is not visible does not disqualify.

Must an aqiqah animal be male?

No, both male and female count with no difference, what matters is meeting the required age and being free of disqualifying faults.

Does a cut ear disqualify the animal for aqiqah?

It counts with dislike according to most scholars, but it is better to avoid it since this is an occasion of devotion to Allah.

Does a young, cheap animal count if it is under the required age?

No, age is a condition for validity that a tight budget does not remove. It is better to delay the aqiqah slightly until an animal meeting the age is available than to compromise on a basic requirement.

Related: How many aqiqah animals for a boy and a girl · Qurbani requirements: age, faults, and time · How aqiqah meat is distributed

This article is general information, not a fatwa. On disputed points, consult scholars you trust.