its offspring, and when the day of sacrifice arrives, slaughter it and its offspring on behalf of seven [people]." Narrated by Sa'id ibn Mansur, from Abu al-Ahwas, from Zuhayr al-'Absi, from al-Mughira ibn Hadhf, from Ali.

Section: He shall not drink any of its milk except for the surplus beyond what its offspring needs. If there is nothing surplus to it, or if milking it would harm it or reduce its meat, he may not take it. If it is not like that, he may take it and benefit from it. This is the opinion of al-Shafi'i. Abu Hanifa said: He shall not milk it; rather, he should sprinkle water on the udder until the milk ceases. If he milks it, he must give it as charity, because the milk is generated from the obligatory sacrifice, so it is not permissible for the sacrificer to benefit from it, just like the offspring. Our evidence is the statement of Ali, may God be pleased with him: "Do not milk it except for what is surplus to the convenience of its offspring." Furthermore, it is a benefit that does not harm it or its offspring, so it is similar to riding it; it differs from the offspring because the latter can be delivered to its destination, whereas with milk, if he milks it and leaves it, it spoils, and if he does not milk it, the udder becomes engorged and it causes harm to the animal, so it is permissible for him to drink it, though giving it as charity would be better. If he milks what would harm the animal or its offspring, it is not permissible for him, and he is obligated to give it as charity. If it is said: "When he shears its wool, hair, or fur, he gives it as charity and does not benefit from it, so why do you permit him to benefit from the milk?" We say: The difference between them is from two perspectives. First, its milk is generated from its feed and fodder, which is what is sustained by it, so it is permissible to direct it toward that [the owner], just as when the pledgee (murtahin) feeds the pledged item, he is permitted to milk it and ride it, but he is not permitted to take the wool or the hair. Second, the wool and hair provide benefit permanently, so they are treated as its skin and parts, whereas the milk is drunk and consumed bit by bit, so it is treated as its utilities and riding. Furthermore, milk regenerates every day, while wool and hair are an existing substance that remains throughout the year.

Section: As for its wool, if shearing it is more beneficial for the animal—such as if it is in the spring season and it becomes lighter and fattens by being sheared—it is permissible to shear it, and he must give it as charity. If it does not harm the animal due to the proximity of the time of slaughter, or if its remaining is more beneficial for it because it protects it from heat and cold, it is not permissible for him to take it, just as he is not permitted to take any of its other parts.