Shareholders not distributing the qurbaani meat of a cow equally

Q: If a family purchases a cow for qurbani, however when sharing the meat, due to ignorance it was not distributed equally but mutually agreed.

1. Is the meat permissible to eat and gift to others

2. Is the qurbani valid.

3. If the qurbaani is not valid how should one compensate for it.

A: The qurbaani of all the shareholders is valid. If all the shareholders are not jointly going to eat from the meat, but are going to be taking it away to their homes, then it is compulsory upon them to distribute the meat equally among themselves. If they did not distribute the meat equally, then they should make taubah for not fulfilling this sharee obligation correctly as the extra amount of meat (more than their share) one receives will be riba.

The fuqaha mention that even if the shareholders among themselves agree to forgive each other for any extra amount they received from each other's share, then too the extra amount over one's share will not be halaal for one, and will still remain riba (as this is the obligation of Allah Ta'ala). Therefore, taubah should be made for not distributing the meat correctly.

If one has received more meat than one's share and one is not sure as to how much extra one has received, then as a precaution one should give some amount of the meat to the poor without the intention of receiving any reward.

It is permissible for one to eat and gift others from one's rightful share of the meat.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

(وصح اشتراك ستة في بدنة شريت لأضحية ... ويقسم اللحم وزنا لا جزافا إلا إذا ضم معه الأكارع أو الجلد) صرفا للجنس لخلاف جنسه

قال العلامة ابن عابدين: (قوله لا جزافا) لأن القسمة فيها معنى المبادلة، ولو حلل بعضهم بعضا. قال في البدائع: أما عدم جواز القسمة مجازفة فلأن فيها معنى التمليك واللحم من أموال الربا فلا يجوز تمليكه مجازفة. وأما عدم جواز التحليل فلأن الربا لا يحتمل الحل بالتحليل، ولأنه في معنى الهبة وهبة المشاع فيما يحتمل القسمة لا تصح اهـ ... (قوله إلا إذا ضم معه إلخ) بأن يكون مع أحدهما بعض اللحم مع الأكارع ومع الآخر البعض مع البعض مع الجلد عناية (رد المحتار 6/ 317)

ولو باع قطعة لحم بلحم أكثر وزنا فوهبه الفضل لم يجز لأنه هبة مشاع يقسم. (رد المحتار 5/ 171)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)