Which is better for the sacrificial animal: a camel or a sheep, if we are unable to distribute the meat of the camels?
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The questioner : A questioner says: I am able to distribute the meat of sheep, but I am not able to do so with the meat of camels. He means this regarding the sacrificial animal, because in a previous lesson we heard from you that it is obligatory for us to distribute the meat to the poor people of Makkah.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : We are able to do that with the meat of sheep, but we are not able to do it if we slaughter camels. It was previously stated in the lesson that the meat of camels is better.
The Shaykh : No, the meat of camels, may Allah reward you, is the complete one, meaning that one camel is equivalent to seven sheep.
The questioner : Yes?
The Shaykh : One that will be equivalent to seven sheep, meaning the sacrificial animal, for example. If a person says, "I want to bring a sacrificial animal," is it better for him to buy a camel, or to buy a cow, or to buy a sheep?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We say: the camel is better.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And as for if you want seven camels, then the sheep is better.
The questioner : We mean, our Shaykh, the issue of distributing the meat afterwards.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Because, as we do, we take the meat of the sheep and ensure that the poor people receive it.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If we were to slaughter the better one, which is the camel, we would be unable to distribute the meat.
The Shaykh : The meaning of "better" is not that we slaughter a camel in which seven people share.
The questioner : No, I mean a camel in which seven people do not share, a camel for one person.
The Shaykh : For one person.
The questioner : Yes, but we are unable to distribute its meat.
The Shaykh : Strange!
The questioner : We are only able to do that with the sheep.
The Shaykh : Therefore, the lesser of the two is preferred here for the reason you mentioned. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : We are able to do that with the meat of sheep, but we are not able to do it if we slaughter camels. It was previously stated in the lesson that the meat of camels is better.
The Shaykh : No, the meat of camels, may Allah reward you, is the complete one, meaning that one camel is equivalent to seven sheep.
The questioner : Yes?
The Shaykh : One that will be equivalent to seven sheep, meaning the sacrificial animal, for example. If a person says, "I want to bring a sacrificial animal," is it better for him to buy a camel, or to buy a cow, or to buy a sheep?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We say: the camel is better.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And as for if you want seven camels, then the sheep is better.
The questioner : We mean, our Shaykh, the issue of distributing the meat afterwards.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Because, as we do, we take the meat of the sheep and ensure that the poor people receive it.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If we were to slaughter the better one, which is the camel, we would be unable to distribute the meat.
The Shaykh : The meaning of "better" is not that we slaughter a camel in which seven people share.
The questioner : No, I mean a camel in which seven people do not share, a camel for one person.
The Shaykh : For one person.
The questioner : Yes, but we are unable to distribute its meat.
The Shaykh : Strange!
The questioner : We are only able to do that with the sheep.
The Shaykh : Therefore, the lesser of the two is preferred here for the reason you mentioned. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.