and he should give it in charity. He must not give its butcher his wages from it, nor sell its hide—or anything from it—but may benefit from it.

His statement, “and he should give it in charity,” means what he has shorn from it. The apparent meaning of the author’s words is that he may not benefit from it and that he must give it in charity. Thus, if he says, “I wish to make garments or ropes from it,” we say: This is not permissible; rather, you must give it in charity.

Some scholars said that he may benefit from it, since if he may benefit from the entire hide, then wool is even more deserving of this allowance. This is the correct view: he is not required to give it in charity. However, the condition must be observed: he may shear it only if doing so is more beneficial for the animal. If it is more beneficial and he shears it, then we say: if you wish, give it in charity; if you wish, give it as a gift; and if you wish, benefit from it yourself. This is because it is permissible for you to benefit from the hide and the wool, and even from the fat, meat, and bones. You are not required to give away anything except that which falls under the designation of meat, as will be mentioned later.

His statement, “He must not give its butcher his wages from it, nor sell its hide—or anything from it—but may benefit from it.”

The butcher is the one who slaughters or sacrifices the animal by cutting its throat; the latter term applies to camels, while the former applies to other animals. His statement, “He must not give its butcher his wages from it,” is based on the hadith of Ali, may Allah be pleased with him: the Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, instructed him to oversee his sacrificial camels and to distribute all of them—their meat, hides, and coverings—and not to give anything from them as payment for butchering them. (1)

This is also because the butcher acts as his deputy, while he himself is required to slaughter it in order for it to be an act of devotion. Thus, if he is