Is it permissible to share in a sacrifice, and how many Muslims can share in a sacrifice?.
Praise be to Allaah.
It is permissible to share in a sacrifice if it is a camel or a cow, but it is not permissible to share in a sheep. It is permissible for seven people to share one camel or cow.
It is narrated that the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) shared sacrifices: seven people would share a camel or a cow in Hajj and ‘Umrah.
Muslim (1318) narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “On the day of al-Hudaybiyah we offered the sacrifice with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), a camel on behalf of seven and a cow on behalf of seven.
According to another report, it was narrated that Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: We performed Hajj with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and we sacrificed a camel on behalf of seven and a cow on behalf of seven.
Abu Dawood (2808) narrated from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A cow on behalf of seven and a camel on behalf of seven.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
Al-Nawawi said in Sharh Muslim:
These ahaadeeth indicate that it is permissible to share in the sacrifice, but they are unanimously agreed that it not permissible to share in a sheep. These ahaadeeth indicate that a camel is sufficient on behalf of seven people, and a cow is sufficient on behalf of seven people, and each of them takes the place of seven sheep. So if a muhrim is required to offer seven sacrifices –except in the case of the penalty for hunting – and he slaughters a camel or a cow, that is equivalent to them all. End quote.
The Standing Committee was asked about sharing in the sacrifice and they replied:
A camel or a cow is sufficient on behalf of seven people, whether they are all from one family or are from different families, and whether they are related to one another or not, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) gave permission to the Sahaabah to share a camel or a cow, one animal for every seven people, and he did not say anything more specific than that. End quote.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 11/401
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Ahkaam al-Udhiyah:
One sheep is sufficient for one person, and one-seventh of a camel or cow is sufficient for what one sheep is sufficient for. End quote.
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