It should be understood that one-seventh of a camel or cow suffices for whatever a sheep suffices. Accordingly, if a person offers this as an udhiyah on behalf of himself and his household, it suffices—contrary to what some students of knowledge have understood: that one-seventh of a camel cannot include others and suffices for only one person. This is a misconception, not a sound understanding—neither of what has come in the sunnah nor of the statements of the scholars. For including others in the reward has no limit; it is shared ownership that is limited. Shared ownership in a camel or cow is limited to seven shares, with no more.

Thus, with respect to ownership and validity, a sheep suffices for only one person; one-seventh of a camel suffices for only one person; and a cow or camel suffices for no more than seven people. As for the reward, include whomever you wish. This is why the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, “would offer one sheep as an udhiyah on behalf of himself and the members of his household” (1). His household consisted of nine wives, with him being the tenth—provided that he did not also intend by “his household” his relatives, in which case there would be no limit. Therefore, there is a distinction between ownership and validity on the one hand, and reward on the other.

So, if a person takes a share in one-seventh of a camel and says, “O Allah, this is on behalf of me and my household,” it suffices for him and his household, even if they number one hundred.