One Goat is Sufficient for the Entire Household:
It is known from several authentic hadiths that one goat is sufficient for all the members of a household. As it is stated in several authentic hadiths, when you slaughtered the ram, you said: “In the name of Allah. O Allah! Accept this from Muhammad (ﷺ), the family of Muhammad (ﷺ), and the Ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ).” (Sahih Muslim, etc.)
From this, it is known that you included yourself, the family of Muhammad (ﷺ), and the Ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ) in the sacrifice of a single ram. Imam al-Khattabi, in his commentary on this hadith, has said that “Your aforementioned statement indicates that the sacrifice of one goat is sufficient on behalf of a man and his family, even if they are large in number.” It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Hisham (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to sacrifice one goat on behalf of his entire family.
(Mustadrak al-Hakim 4/229, Bayhaqi 9/268)
Imam al-Hakim and Imam al-Dhahabi have authenticated this hadith. Imam al-Hakim, after mentioning several hadiths in the Kitab al-Adahi, Bab al-Du’a ‘ind al-Dhabh, has said:
“All these hadiths with authentic chains are regarding the concession that the sacrifice of one goat is on behalf of a whole group whose number is not counted, and are against the person who is under the illusion that the sacrifice of a goat is only on behalf of one person.”
It is narrated from Abu Surayhah (may Allah be pleased with him) that my family tried to persuade me to err, even though I knew the Sunnah that one household would sacrifice one or two goats. Now if we do so, our neighbors will taunt us for being miserly.
(Ibn Majah, Abwab al-Adahi, Bab man dhahha bi-shatin min ahlihi 3148)
From the aforementioned authentic hadiths, it is known that the sacrifice of one goat is sufficient for the entire household. If a person wants to perform more than one sacrifice, that is more virtuous. The Prophet (ﷺ) himself also performed several sacrifices.
Tafheem-e-Deen, Kitab al-Udhiyah, Page: 254
A male goat, female goat, ram, and sheep suffice for only one person. However, one male goat or ram is sufficient for the entire household. Observe the proofs:
The Prophet (ﷺ) sacrificed a ram and said:
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ ، اللّٰہُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ مِنْ مُّحَمَّدٍ وَّآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمِنْ أُمَّۃٍ مُحَمَّدٍ .
“In the name of Allah (I slaughter). O Allah! Accept (this sacrifice) from Muhammad (ﷺ), the family of Muhammad, and the Ummah of Muhammad.” (Sahih Muslim: 2/156, H: 1967)
From the blessed hadith, it is proven that one ram can be slaughtered on behalf of the entire household, and the sacrifice will be fulfilled on behalf of all.
The families of those sacrificing in Mina cannot be included in this.
Benefit:
Sacrificing on behalf of the Ummah is a specialty of the Prophet (ﷺ).
Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked:
کیف کانت الضّحایا فیکم علٰی عہد رسول اللّٰہ صلّٰی اللّٰہ علیہ وسلّم؟
“How was the sacrifice in your time during the blessed era of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?”
He said:
کان الرّجل فی عہد النّبيّ صلّٰی اللّٰہ علیہ وسلّم یضحّي بالشّاۃ عنہ وعن أہل بیتہ فیأکلون و یطعمون ، ثمّ تباہی النّاس فصار کما ترٰی.
“In the Prophetic era, one goat would be sacrificed on behalf of the entire household. They would eat the meat themselves and also feed others. Afterwards, people began to boast and compete with each other (in sacrificing), and the situation is as you see it.”
(Muwatta bi-Riwayat Yahya: 2/486, Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 1505, Sunan Ibn Majah: 3147 and the wording is his, Al-Sunan al-Kubra li’l-Bayhaqi: 9/268, and its chain is Sahih)
Imam al-Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) has called it “Hasan Sahih”.
Abdullah ibn Hisham (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
کان رسول اللّٰہ صلّی اللّٰہ علیہ وسلّم یضحّی بالشّاۃ الواحدۃ عن جمیع أہلہ ۔
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to sacrifice one goat on behalf of his entire household.”
(Al-Ahad wa’l-Mathani li-Ibn Abi ‘Asim: 679, Al-Mustadrak li’l-Hakim: 3/456, 4/229 and the wording is his, Al-Sunan al-Kubra li’l-Bayhaqi: 9/268, and its chain is Sahih)
Imam al-Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) has called this hadith “Sahih”, and Hafiz al-Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) has agreed with him.
This narration is also narrated mawqufan in Sahih al-Bukhari (7210).
Sayyiduna Abu Surayhah al-Ghifari Hudhayfah ibn Usayd (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
“My family urged me to excess, even though I knew the Sunnah that the entire household could suffice with one or two goats for sacrifice. (If we do so now), the neighbors call us misers.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah: 3148 and the wording is his, Al-Mustadrak li’l-Hakim: 4/228, Al-Sunan al-Kubra li’l-Bayhaqi: 9/269, Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir li’l-Tabarani: 3056, 3057, 3058, and its chain is Sahih)
Imam al-Hakim has called the chain of this hadith “Sahih”, and Hafiz al-Dhahabi has agreed with him.
Ten partners can share in a camel, as it is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that we were with the Prophet (ﷺ) on a journey on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, and we shared ten people in a camel and seven in a cow.
(Musnad Ahmad: 2488, Al-Sunan al-Kubra li’l-Nasa’i: 4123, 4392, 4482, Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 905, Sunan Ibn Majah: 3131, Al-Mustadrak li’l-Hakim: 4/230, and its chain is Hasan)
Imam al-Tirmidhi has called this hadith “Hasan Gharib”, Imam Ibn Hibban (4007) has called it “Sahih”, and Imam al-Hakim has called it “Sahih on the condition of Imam Bukhari”. Hafiz al-Dhahabi has agreed with him.
From this authentic hadith, it is proven that ten individuals can share in a camel.
In one narration, it is stated:
Sayyiduna Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that we sacrificed with the Prophet (ﷺ) in the year of Hudaybiyyah. A camel and a cow were slaughtered on behalf of seven people each. (Sahih Muslim: 1/424, H: 1318)
If this hadith is interpreted to refer to “Hady” (sacrifice in Mina), then the conflict is resolved. Outside of Mina, one camel can be sacrificed for ten people.
The animals that are slaughtered for sacrifice are of two types: 1. Hady, 2. Udhiyah.
Hady:
It is the animal that is brought to the Haram and is slaughtered in the Haram. This is from the rituals of Hajj.
Udhiyah:
It refers to the animal that is slaughtered for the nearness of Allah Ta’ala on Eid and the Days of Tashreeq.
If a camel is to be slaughtered as Hady, it can have seven shares, as stated by Hazrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us: “We should share seven individuals each in the sacrifice of a camel and a cow.”
[Sahih Muslim, Al-Hajj: 1213]
It should be clear that the aforementioned command was given by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the occasion of Hajj, as is known from the beginning of the hadith. If a camel is to be slaughtered as Udhiyah, then there is scope for ten shares in it, as is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), who says that we were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey when the time for sacrifice came. We shared ten people in a camel and seven in a cow. [Ibn Majah, Al-Adahi: 3131]
From a narration of Hazrat Rafi’ ibn Khadij (may Allah be pleased with him), it is also known that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) once equated ten goats to one camel.
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Shirkah: 2507]
Some scholars hold the position that the participation of ten or seven people in one camel is a concession from Allah. Meaning, ten people can also share in a camel, and so can seven. However, if one has the means, a single person can also sacrifice one camel or cow. As stated by Hazrat ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) slaughtered one cow on behalf of his pure wives on the occasion of the Farewell Hajj.
[Ibn Majah, Al-Adahi: 3135]
In any case, ten people can share in one camel for sacrifice on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. If seven shares are kept in a camel, that is also permissible. (And Allah knows best).
Fatawa Ashab al-Hadith, Volume 3, Page number 411
In the questioned situation, 10 partners cannot share in the sacrifice of a camel. Because in authentic hadiths, seven shares are specified for a cow and a camel. It is narrated from Hazrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him):
’أَنَّ النَّبِیَّ صَلَّی اللهُ عَلَیْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: الْبَقَرَةُ عَنْ سَبْعَةٍ، وَالْجَزُورُ عَنْ سَبْعَةٍ۔‘ Sahih Muslim, Bab al-ishtirak fi al-hady wa ijza’ al-baqarah…etc., no. 1318, Sunan Abi Dawood, no. 2807
“Meaning, a cow is from seven, and a camel is from seven.” And this is the practice of the majority of Muslims for fourteen hundred years, and no one has objected to this practice, and all the mujtahid Imams and esteemed jurists have had the same practice, that a camel has seven shares. However, the non-madhhabi sect, which has recently emerged and is ill-wishing towards the majority of Muslims, has used weak narrations to argue that there can be ten shares. Whereas their argument is wrong because a ruling is not established from a weak narration. In Tirmidhi Sharif, after quoting the narration of ten shares, it is said: ‘This is a ghareeb hadith, Bab al-Adhiyah.’ Therefore, it is incumbent upon Muslims to adopt the practice that has been ongoing for fourteen hundred years and to protect themselves from the fitnah of misguided sects. (And Allah Ta’ala knows best).
(Deputy Mufti, Jamia Nizamia Rizvia, Lahore)
Ten partners can share in the sacrifice of a camel. Accordingly, it is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that:
’کُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَیْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِی سَفَرٍ فَحَضَرَ الأَضْحَی فَاشْتَرَکْنَا فِی البَقَرَةِ سَبْعَةً، وَفِی البَعِیرِ عَشَرَةً.۔‘ Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Bab ma ja’a fi al-ishtirak fi al-udhiyah, no. 1501, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 2908
“We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on a journey, and the time for Eid al-Adha arrived, so we shared seven in a cow and ten in a camel.”
Allamah al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) in “Ta’liq Mishkat” (1/462) says:
’ وَ اِسْنَادُهٗ صَحِیْحٌ، رِجَالُهُ رِجَالُ الصَّحِیْحِ۔‘
“The chain of this hadith is authentic, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.”
Allamah al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) has included it in “Sahih al-Tirmidhi”.
The Mufti Sahib of Jamia Nizamia, Lahore, has claimed that the narrations regarding ten partners in the sacrifice of a camel are ghareeb (strange/isolated) and cannot be used for inference, and that a ruling is not established from a ghareeb narration. He said that Imam Tirmidhi, in ‘Bab al-Adhiyah’, has called it ghareeb. Instead of stopping at that, he has slung a lot of mud at the Ahl al-Hadith creed and vented his frustration. This has been the habit of the Barelvi sect and, before it, of the people of innovation in every era. Shah Abdul Qadir Jilani (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“A sign of the people of innovation is that they bear malice towards the Ahl al-Hadith.”
Therefore, this language is befitting of them. At this time, the point that needs to be briefly examined is whether this hadith is in fact weak and cannot be acted upon, and whether no one from the individuals of the Ummah has acted upon it.
First, note the references of the esteemed muhaddithin who have given this narration a place in their “compilations”! Musnad Ahmad (1/275), Sunan Ibn Majah (3131), Sunan al-Nasa’i (7/222), Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah (2900), Sahih Ibn Hibban (4007), Mu’jam Tabarani Kabir (11929), Mu’jam Tabarani Awsat (8128), Hakim (4/2900), Bayhaqi (5/235), Baghawi (1132), Tuhfat al-Ashraf (5/151, hadith no. 1658), Al-Musnad al-Jami’ (9/345, hadith no. 6706).
The aforementioned Mufti Sahib, with reference to “Imam Tirmidhi”, has only quoted its strangeness (gharabat), whereas the fact of the matter is that Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) has graded this hadith as Hasan Ghareeb, and the purpose of this is to point to the difference in the chains. It is ghareeb with respect to some, and hasan with respect to others. Below, the sayings of different Imams of hadith regarding this narration are quoted.
Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: ’ صَحِیْحٌ عَلٰی شَرْطِ الْبُخَارِیِّ ‘ “The chain of this hadith is authentic according to the condition of Bukhari.”
The Imam of Jarh wa Ta’dil, al-Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him), has agreed with him.
Imam Ibn Khuzaymah (may Allah have mercy on him) in his “Sahih” has expressed reliance on it and strengthened this position, and to reinforce his position, he has sought support from the hadith of Rafi’ ibn Khadij that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, on a military campaign, equated one camel to ten goats. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Shirkah, Bab Qismat al-Ghanam, no. 2488, Mu’jam al-Kabir, no. 4383).
Imam Ibn Majah, in his “Sunan”, has established a chapter heading for this hadith with the words: ’بَابُ عَنْ کَمْ تُجْزِئُ الْبَدَنَۃُ وَالْبَقَرَۃُ‘ i.e., on behalf of how many people can a camel and a cow suffice? From this, it is known that according to the said Imam, the permissibility of ten shares in a camel is valid.
Imam Ishaq (may Allah have mercy on him) says that a camel suffices for ten people. For this, he has used the hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) as evidence.
Imam Ibn Hazm in “Al-Muhalla” (7/382) says that the same has been transmitted from the Sahaba from Ibn Abbas (the narrator of the hadith).
Imam Shawkani in “Nayl al-Awtar” says that “There is a difference of opinion among the scholars regarding the sacrifice of a camel. The Shafi’is, Hanafis, and the majority are of the opinion that a camel suffices for seven. Whereas the ‘Itrah, Ishaq ibn Rahwayh, Ibn Khuzaymah, and in one narration Ibn Musayyib have said that a camel suffices for ten individuals, and this is the truth and the correct view.” (with reference to Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi: 2/356).
It should be clear that the standard for knowing the truth is not minority or majority, but following the original proof. It is in the Quran:
﴿فَرُدُّوْهُ اِلَی اللّٰهِ وَ الرَّسُوْلِ﴾ (Al-Nisa: 59) i.e., to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, not to the opinions and understandings of men.
The saying of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) is famous: ’اَعْرِفِ الْحَقَّ تَعْرفْ اَهْلَهٗ ‘
“Recognize the truth, and you will know its people.”
’ اَللّٰهُمَّ اَرِنَا الْحَقَّ حَقًّا وَارْزُقْنَا اِتِّبَاعَهُ وَ اَرِنَا الْبَاطِلَ بَاطِلًا وَ ارْزُقْنَا اجْتِنَابَه ۔‘
“O Allah, show us the truth as truth and grant us the ability to follow it, and show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us the ability to avoid it.”
It is hoped that the honorable Mufti Sahib will reconsider his fatwa. The saying of Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) is:
’ وَمُرَاجَعَةُ الْحَقِّ خَیْرٌ مِنْ التَّمَادِی فِی الْبَاطِلِ‘ (I’lam al-Muwaqqi’in: 1/68)
“Returning to the truth is better than persisting in falsehood.”
This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Fatawa Hafiz Sanaullah Madani, Volume: 3, Kitab al-Sawm: Page: 372
Ten individuals can share in the sacrifice of a camel, while seven can share in the sacrifice of a cow, as Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that we were once with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey when the time for sacrifice came. We shared ten people in a camel and seven in a cow.
[Ibn Majah, Al-Adahi: 3131]
In this regard, another hadith is also narrated: Hazrat Rafi’ ibn Khadij (may Allah be pleased with him) says that we were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at the place of Dhul-Hulayfah. Goats and camels came into our hands as spoils of war. The people quickly slaughtered them and put the pots on the fire. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came and ordered the pots to be overturned. Then he equated ten goats to one camel and distributed them.
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Shirkah: 2507]
However, in one hadith, it is stated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “A cow should be sacrificed on behalf of seven people, and a camel also on behalf of seven people.” [Abu Dawud, Al-Dahaya: 2808]
Regarding this, the position of the scholars is that it relates to Hady, meaning it refers to the sacrifice that is performed on the occasion of Hajj. On this occasion, only seven people can share in one camel. Some are of the opinion that this is a concession from Allah; those with means can share seven in a camel, and those who are somewhat financially weaker can share ten in a camel. A single person can also sacrifice a camel or a cow. In any case, ten individuals can share in a camel. There is no reason to specify this to travel. Also, if one has the means, seven people can also share. However, in the camel of Hady, only seven individuals will share.
Fatawa Ashab al-Hadith, Volume 3, Page number 410
وَبِاللّٰہِ التَّوْفِیْقُ
وَصَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلٰی نَبِیَّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِہ وَصَحْبِہ وَسَلَّمَ
وعلى آله وأصحابه وأتباعه بإحسان إلى يوم الدين۔
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