Slaughtering buffalo whose age is less than two years

23-2-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

As-Salamu `Alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahi wa barakaatuhu,
One of my cousin is in business of export of Halaal Buffalo Meat to several countries in the world. Till date they have been using healthy livestock for exports irrespective of age of the livestock.
Recently there has been some discussion in India that only animals above 2 years old are allowed for slaughter as per Islamic Shariah.
The question is can they slaughter any livestock which is healthy and fit for slaughter irrespective of age or is there any age restriction as far as Islam is concerned for normal consumption? (Not as sacrifice)
Jazakallahu Khairan
Wassalaam.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

It is permissible to slaughter an animal the meat of which is lawful to eat that is less than two years old, and specifying a particular age for the animal is not a condition except in a sacrifice of ‘Eed, ‘Aqeeqah and the Hady (the sacrificial animal in Hajj). For more benefit, refer to Fatwa 92278.

Allaah Knows best.