Raising a valuable goat, then buying a cow in its place for the sacrifice

Question

Question: A man raised a castrated goat with the intention of sacrifice. When it grew so fat that a cow could be bought for its price, he thought of buying a cow for its price, so that seven people could share in it and the sacrifice of seven people would be accomplished. Is it permissible in the Sharia to do so?

Answer

If he did not make it binding upon himself by making a vow (nadhr), then merely by raising it with the intention of sacrifice the sacrifice of this specific animal did not become wajib for him; rather, he is its owner, and it is permissible for him to sell it and buy a good large animal in which seven people can share and discharge their wajib.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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