may his mouth be covered in dust [an expression of disapproval], for it is more beloved to me than offering a sacrifice (8). This was also the view of al-Sha'bi and Abu Thawr. Aisha said: 'For me to give this ring of mine in charity is more beloved to me than to present a thousand [dirhams] as a gift (hady) to the House.' Our evidence is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) offered sacrifices, as did the Caliphs after him; had they known that charity was better, they would have turned to it. Aisha narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The son of Adam does not perform any deed on the Day of Sacrifice more beloved to Allah than the shedding of blood. Indeed, it will come on the Day of Resurrection with its horns, its hooves, and its hair. Verily, the blood reaches a place of acceptance with Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, before it falls upon the ground, so be pleased with it.' Narrated by Ibn Majah (9). Furthermore, favoring charity over sacrifice leads to the abandonment of a sunnah established by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). As for the statement of Aisha, it refers to the gift (hady) rather than the sacrifice (udhiyah), and there is no disagreement regarding that.

1749- Issue: He said: (Whoever intends to offer a sacrifice and the ten days [of Dhu al-Hijjah] have begun, let him not take anything from his hair or his skin.)

The apparent meaning of this is the prohibition of cutting hair. This is the view of some of our companions, and Ibn al-Mundhir narrated it from Ahmad, Ishaq, and Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab. The Qadi and a group of our companions said: 'It is disliked, not prohibited.' This is also the view of Malik and al-Shafi'i, based on the statement of Aisha: 'I used to plait the garlands for the sacrificial animals of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), then he would put them on with his own hand, then send them off, and nothing that Allah made lawful for him became forbidden to him until the sacrifice was slaughtered.' Muttafaq 'alayh (1). Abu Hanifah said: 'It is not disliked, because sexual intercourse and wearing [perfumed or stitched] clothing are not forbidden to him, so cutting hair and clipping nails are not disliked, just as if he did not intend to sacrifice.' Our evidence is what Umm Salamah narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he said: 'If the ten days have begun and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him not take anything from his hair or his nails until he offers the sacrifice.' Narrated by Muslim (2). The requirement