Fasting is valid in any place. The sacrificial offering is one sheep, or one-seventh of a camel; a cow also suffices in its place.

His statement, “Fasting is valid in any place,” is because fasting is not connected to anyone’s benefit, and so it is valid wherever it is observed. However, one must bear in mind an issue that may prevent one from fasting in any place: expiations must be discharged immediately, unless the Sacred Law has explicitly permitted delay in a particular case. Thus, if it must be discharged immediately and, for example, his journey back to his homeland is delayed, he must fast in Mecca.

For example, a man becomes liable for the expiation for harm, which consists of fasting, feeding, or sacrifice, and he chooses fasting. Should we say to him: “You may postpone it until you return to your country?”

The answer is: if you delay it, you are sinful, though it will still suffice; but hasten to do it, because discharging an expiation is an immediate obligation, just as paying zakah is an immediate obligation.

His statement, “The sacrificial offering is one sheep,” means that when the term “sacrificial offering” is used in the language of the jurists, it refers to one of three things:

First: a sheep. When “sheep” is used in the terminology of the jurists, it includes both males and females among sheep and goats. Thus, a male goat is a sheep, a ram is a sheep, a female sheep is a sheep, and a female goat is a sheep.

His statement, “Or one-seventh of a camel”: this is the second thing meant by a sacrificial offering—that is, one share out of seven of a camel. The evidence is that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah: “Sacrifice a sheep” (1). A camel may be shared by seven people, as Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “At al-Hudaybiyyah, we sacrificed with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, one camel on behalf of seven people and one cow on behalf of seven people” (2), on condition that he intends it.