The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—would send an assessor to estimate the people’s fruit yields, instructing him to leave one-third or one-quarter unassessed for their owners, according to what would be consumed or otherwise used by the owners and others.

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(142–144) “And among livestock are those fit to bear burdens and those too small to do so. Eat of what Allah has provided for you, and do not follow Satan’s footsteps. He is indeed your avowed enemy.”

That is, He created and brought into being among the livestock “those fit to bear burdens and those too small to do so.” In other words, some of them you use to carry loads and to ride, while others are too small to be used for carrying and riding, such as young camels and the like. These are the animals that are too small. Thus, in terms of carrying loads and being ridden, livestock fall into these two categories.

As for eating and the various other uses derived from them, all livestock may be eaten and put to use. Hence He said, “Eat of what Allah has provided for you, and do not follow Satan’s footsteps”—that is, his paths and practices, among which is your declaring unlawful some of what Allah has provided for you. “He is indeed your avowed enemy,” and therefore commands you only to do what will bring you harm and eternal misery.