Short answer
Sheep, goats, cows, buffalo and camels, male or female. In the Hanafi school a goat or sheep must be one lunar year old (a large sheep of six months is accepted), a cow or buffalo two years, and a camel five. The animal must be free of clear defects such as blindness, lameness or severe weakness.
Only livestock count: sheep, goats, cattle (including buffalo) and camels. A goat must complete one year; a sheep must complete one year, or six months if it is so well grown it looks a year old; a cow or buffalo two years; a camel five years. Clear defects disqualify it, including losing more than a third of an ear, tail or sight.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- A sheep must complete one year and a goat two years; a cow two years and a camel five.
- Maliki
- A sheep or goat must complete one year, a cow three years and a camel five.
Explanation
The Quran speaks of sacrifice over "what He has provided for them of animals", meaning grazing livestock. Chickens, ducks, deer and fish do not count for qurbani, though giving them in charity is good. The Prophet ﷺ said to sacrifice only a musinnah (an animal of full age), unless that is hard for you, then a jadha'ah (young) sheep.
- Goat or sheep: one person. One lunar year; a six-month sheep that is large enough to look a year old among yearlings is accepted.
- Cow or buffalo: up to seven people. Two years.
- Camel: up to seven people. Five years.
Defects that disqualify: the Prophet ﷺ named four: clear blindness in one eye, clear illness, clear lameness, and an animal so thin it has no marrow. Hanafi jurists add: missing more than a third of an ear, tail or eyesight; no teeth or most teeth lost so it cannot graze; a horn broken off at the root; inability to walk to the slaughter place. Small cuts in the ear, natural lack of horns and castration are fine. Castrated animals are even preferred for their meat.
- Male or female: both are valid.
- Best choice: a healthy, well-fed animal. The Prophet sacrificed two horned rams.
- Paying online: ask the charity to confirm the animals meet these ages.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Hajj 22:34
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًۭا لِّيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ ۗ فَإِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ فَلَهُۥٓ أَسْلِمُوا۟ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُخْبِتِينَ ﴿٣٤﴾
And for all religion We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. For your god is one God, so to Him submit. And, [O Muhammad], give good tidings to the humble [before their Lord]
Qurbani is from livestock that Allah provided.
Quran, Surah Al-Hajj 22:36
وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌۭ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٣٦﴾
And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allah upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]; and when they are [lifeless] on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful.
Camels and cattle are named as symbols of Allah for sacrifice.
Sahih Muslim 1963
Sahih... لا تذبحوا إلا مسنة إلا أن يعسر عليكم ...
"Sacrifice only a fully grown animal, unless that is difficult for you; then sacrifice a young sheep."
The basis of the minimum ages.
Sunan an-Nasa'i 4369
Graded sahih... العوراء البين عورها والمريضة البين مرضها والعرجاء البين ظلعها ...
"Four are not allowed: the one-eyed animal whose blindness is clear, the sick animal whose illness is clear, the lame animal whose limp is clear, and the emaciated one with no marrow."
The defects that disqualify a sacrifice.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Udhiyah, on the animals and their ages. The jadha' of sheep and the thaniy of other animals.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Udhiyah, chapter on defects. The detailed list of defects and the one-third measure.
- Minhaj al-Talibin (Nawawi), Kitab al-Udhiyah. The Shafi'i ages.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.