the middle of the Night of Sacrifice. The apparent meaning of the author’s words is that it is valid without restriction—for the strong and the weak, male and female alike—and this has already been explained.

As for those who say that an incapacitated person may depart from Muzdalifah during the latter part of the night but must not stone until the sun has risen, their view is weak, since there is no evidence for it. Moreover, the greatest benefit for one who departs during the latter part of the night is to stone. Hence, the women whom the Companions would send ahead during the latter part of the night would stone at dawn, or shortly before or after it, as soon as they arrived. Thus, whenever a person arrives, he should stone, whether he arrives before sunrise or after it.

His statement, “Then he sacrifices an animal if he has one with him”: he uses the term “slaughter” in the predominant sense, or in consideration of the wording of the hadith, in which Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Then he went to the place of sacrifice and slaughtered.” (1) It is known that the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, had brought camels as sacrificial offerings. (2) Therefore, if someone has brought camels as offerings, we say to him: slaughter them. If he has brought cattle or sheep as offerings, we say to him: sacrifice them. If he does not have a sacrificial animal with him, he should go and buy one in the market, then slaughter it.

Regarding his statement, “if he has one with him”: is the author’s wording to be understood literally? That is, if he needs to seek out and purchase an animal, should he shave first? Or is this based on what is generally the case?

The second is what appears to be intended. Even one who needs to purchase an animal should be told: what is preferable is that you slaughter after stoning and then shave. After the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had stoned Jamrat al-Aqabah, he went to his lodging, slaughtered his sacrificial animal, and then shaved his head. (3)