Malik said, "That is what I
like best of what I have heard ."
Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr said, "I mentioned
that to Amra bint Abd ar-Rahman, and she affirmed that he had spoken
the truth as she had heard A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Some people from the desert came
at the time of the sacrifice in the time of the Messenger of Allah,
may Allah bless him and grant him peace, so the Messenger of Allah,
may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Store up for three
days, and give what is left over as sadaqa.' "
She said that
afterwards some one said to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, that people had been accustomed to make use
of their sacrificial animals, melting the fat and curing the skins.
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
"What about that?" They said, "You have forbidden the meat of
sacrificial animals after three days." The Messenger of Allah, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "I only forbade you for the
sake of the people who were coming to you. Eat, give sadaqa and store
up."
By these people, he meant the poor people who were
coming to Madina.
Malik said, "The best that I have heard about a
single camel, cow or sheep, is that a man should sacrifice a camel for
himself and his family. He sacrifices a cow or sheep which he owns for
his family, and shares with them in it. It is disapproved for a group
of people to buy a camel, cow or sheep, to share for the ritual and
sacrifices, each man giving a share of its price, and taking a share
of its meat. We have heard the tradition that people do not share in
the ritual. However, it may be that the people of one household can
share."
Malik said, "I do not know which of them Ibn Shihab said."
Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard
the same from Ali ibn Abi Talib.
Malik said, "The
sacrifice is sunna, and it is not obligatory. I prefer that anyone who
has the price of the animal should not abandon it.''