Sacrificing a sheep less than a year old
Question
Question: We want to buy sheep for sacrifice. There they come in two kinds. One flock of sheep is completely separate, of fifteen or twenty head; the age of all of them ranges from a full year to about two years; here they are called “ship” (Ship). And there is another flock, also of fifteen or twenty head; the age of all of them is under a year, but in appearance they look two years old, and they are also fatter than the sheep of one full year to two years.
Answer
The best course, of course, is to sacrifice the one that has completed a year, even if the sheep under a year appears fatter. Nevertheless, the sacrifice will be permissible with one that is somewhat less than a year old and in appearance equal to a year-old sheep or larger.
Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya
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