the badana is obligatory due to a vow, retribution for hunting, or expiation for sexual intercourse. Ibn Aqil said: 'That only suffices in its place when it is unavailable, according to the apparent meaning of Ahmad’s words; because that is a replacement for it, so it should not be turned to when the [original] exists, like all other replacements.' As for when it is unavailable, then it is permissible, due to what Ibn Abbas reported, saying: 'A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: "I am obligated to offer a badana, and I am wealthy enough to afford it (1), but I cannot find one to purchase." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ordered him to purchase seven sheep and slaughter them.' Recorded by Ibn Majah (2). Our argument is that a sheep is equivalent to one-seventh of a badana, and it is better in terms of meat; therefore, if one shifts from the lesser to the greater, it is permissible, just as if he were to slaughter a badana in place of a sheep.
Section: Whoever is obligated to offer seven sheep as retribution for hunting, a badana does not suffice for him according to the apparent view; because seven sheep are better in terms of meat, so one should not shift from the greater to the lesser. However, if that is for the expiation of an act of Ihram (mahzur), a badana does suffice; because the blood sacrifice required for it is 'whatever is facilitated of the offering (hady),' which is a sheep or one-seventh of a badana. The companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to perform tamattu', and they would slaughter a cow on behalf of seven people. Jabir said: 'We used to perform tamattu' with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and we would slaughter a cow on behalf of seven, participating in it.' In another wording: 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ordered us to participate in camels and cows, every seven of us in a badana.' Recorded by Muslim (3).
Section: Whoever is obligated to offer a cow, a badana suffices for him, because it is more abundant and greater in meat. Seven sheep also suffice for him, because they suffice for a badana, so for a cow it is even more appropriate. Whoever is obligated to offer a badana in a case other than a vow or retribution for hunting, a cow suffices for him, due to what Abu al-Zubayr reported from...
(1) In the manuscripts: "lahu" (for it/him). (2) In: The Chapter on how many sheep suffice for a badana, from the Book of Sacrifices. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/1048. It was also recorded by Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 1/311, 312. (3) In: The Chapter on participation in the offering (hady)..., from the Book of Hajj. Sahih Muslim 2/956. It was also recorded by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on for how many a cow and a camel suffice, from the Book of Sacrifices. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/89. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on what a cow suffices for in sacrifices, from the Book of Sacrifices. al-Mujtaba 7/195. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 3/304, 318.
