as one genus, and thus according to him there are three categories. The second [view] is that they are distinct genera according to the difference in their origins, which is the opinion of Abu Hanifa and one of the two opinions of al-Shafi'i, and it is the more correct one; because they are branches of origins that are [themselves] distinct genera, so they are distinct genera, like flours and breads. This is the choice of Ibn Aqil. The choice of the Qadi is that they are four genera. He interpreted the statement of al-Khiraqi accordingly and argued that the benefits of the meat of these animals differ, as does the intent for eating them, so they are distinct genera. This is very weak because their being distinct genera does not necessitate restricting them to four, nor is there an analogue to this that it could be compared to. It is also not correct to interpret al-Khiraqi's statement accordingly because his wording does not permit it, and he expressly stated in [the chapter on] Oaths that if one swears not to eat meat and then eats meat of livestock, bird, or fish, he has broken his oath. Thus, it is necessary to interpret his statement in its general sense, that all meat is one genus because it shares the same name at the time the prohibition of riba occurs in it, so it is one genus, like a spadix. The correct view is that they are distinct genera according to the difference in their origins. This evidence is invalidated by Indian dates and barni dates, cane honey and bee honey, and so on. According to this, all camel meat is one category—its Bakhati and its Arab breeds—and cattle, both Arab breeds and buffaloes, are one category, and sheep, both wool-bearing and goats, are one category. It is possible that they are two categories; because Allah the Almighty named them among the eight pairs, saying: "Eight pairs, of the sheep two and of the goats two" (2). So He distinguished between them, just as He distinguished between camels and cattle, saying: "And of the camels two and of the cattle two" (3). Game animals are categories: their cattle are one category, their sheep are one category, and their gazelles are one category, and every [animal] that has a specific name is a category. Birds are categories; every one that is distinguished by a name and a description is a category. Thus, the meat of one category is sold for the meat of another category with disparity or equality, and it is sold for its own type [only] while equal. Whoever considers them to be one category, it is not permissible according to him to sell meat for meat except while equal.