An issue concerning a vow to sacrifice a specific animal

Question

Question: Zayd raised a buffalo calf, and it went missing. He said: “If it is found, I will sacrifice it for the sake of Allah.” It was found, but Zayd now needs it. Does the Shari‘a permit him to keep it for himself and, in its place, sacrifice another animal of the same value, or is it necessary to sacrifice this very one? Note: that calf is now no longer a calf but a large male buffalo.

Answer

Sacrificing it is binding (lazim). If the days of sacrifice pass and its sacrifice does not come about, he should give it away alive as sadaqa (“Shami”, vol. 5, p. 204).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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