—by unanimous agreement of the four schools. He may, however, be given a portion as a gift if he is well-to-do, or as charity if he is poor, all the more so since his own soul naturally longs for it after handling the slaughter. In this way the general import of the hadith is qualified.
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It is recommended for anyone whom Allah has blessed with ample means to offer more than one hady or udḥiyah, for this counts both as charity and as the shedding of blood for Allah’s sake on this great day.
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The best course with the udḥiyah, the hady, and the ʿaqīqah is to partake of it oneself, present a portion as a gift to a well-off relative, neighbour, or the like, and give a portion in charity to the poor or the destitute. Allah the Exalted says: “That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on appointed days over the livestock He has provided them. Then eat from them and feed the destitute poor” (al-Hajj 22:28).
Al-Tirmidhī also recorded (1510) from the hadith of Buraydah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I had forbidden you to keep the meat of sacrificial animals for more than three days so that those of means might give others room, but now eat as you wish, feed others, and store some.” He graded the hadith “good and sound.”
Scholarly disagreement
The scholars unanimously agree that it is impermissible to sell the meat of either the udḥiyah or the hady.
The majority add that it is likewise forbidden to sell their hides, wool, hair, or the like.
Abū Ḥanīfah permitted the sale of hides, hair, and similar parts by way of barter, not for cash, arguing that a cash exchange is a clear-cut sale, whereas barter more closely resembles each party benefiting from the other’s goods.