All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
According to the majority of the Shafie, Maliki and Hanbali scholars, it isn`t permissible for a person to sell the skin or any other part of his Udhiyah (Sacrificial animal) to the butcher. The evidence on this is that Muslim reported in his Sahih that 'Ali (Allah be pleased with him) reported: Allah's Messenger (PBUH) put me in charge of his sacrificial animals, that I should give their flesh, skins and saddle cloths as sadaqa, but not to give anything to the butcher, saying: We would pay him ourselves." Moreover, Al-Hakim reported in his book {Al-Mustadrak} that Abu Huraira reported : "Allah`s Messenger said: "Whoever sells the skin of his Udhiyah is like the one who hasn`t offered an Udhiyah in the first place." Al-Hakim graded this narration as Sahih (authentic).
It is stated in {Al-Majmou` Shareh Al-Mohath-thab, V.8:P.420}, "Shafies and their fellow scholars are agreed that it isn`t permissible for a person to sell any part of the Udhiyah and the Hadi offered voluntarily or in fulfillment of a vow, be that meat, fat, skin, horn, wool and the like. Also, it isn`t permissible for a person to give the skin of Udhiyah or any other part of it as a price for slaughtering and skinning process. Rather, he should give it in charity or benefit from it (Making it into a container for drinking water or making it into sandals)." It was also stated in the Maliki book {Al-Fawkeh Al-Dawani Ala Resalat Abi Zaid Al-Qhairawani, V.1:P.381},"It isn`t permissible for a person to sell any part of Udhiyah; skin or else."
In addition, it is stated in the Hanbali book, {Khash-shaf Al-Khina`, V.3:P.13},"It isn`t permissible for a person to sell any part of the animal offered as an Udhiyah or Hadi, even when offered voluntarily, because slaughtering turns it into an act of worship. This is attested to in the narration where the Prophet (PBUH) said, "Don`t sell the meat of Udhiyah and Hadi. Rather, give it in charity and benefit from their skin." AL-Maimooni said: Some people asked Abi Abdillah (Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal), "Should we give the skin of Udhiyah to the butcher? He said, "No, and he mentioned the narration in which the Prophet (PBUH) said, "Don`t give the skin of Udhiyah or any other part of it to the butcher as a price for the slaughtering and skinning process. Al-Maimoni added that this narration has a good Sanad (chain of narrators)."
However, Hanafie scholars are of the view that it is permissible to barter the skin of Udhiyah with an item of enduring benefit, such as the sieve and the like. Nonetheless, it isn`t permissible to sell it for money unless for giving it to the poor, which is permissible. It is stated in the Hanafie book {Majma` Al-Anhor, V.6:P.95}, "It is permissible for a person to benefit from the skin of the Udhiyah and the Hadi offered voluntarily and in Tamatou` Haj by making it into fur, rug, blanket or sieve. He is also permitted to barter the skin with an item of enduring benefit, such as the sieve, fur, jacket and sandals. This is in addition of bartering it with garment. However, he isn`t allowed to barter it with food because it isn`t of enduring benefit…..He is also not permitted to barter it with meat. Yet, there is nothing wrong with selling the skin for money to be given to the poor since it isn`t permissible for the person to spend it on himself and if he did, then he is obligated to give that amount in charity."
In conclusion, it isn`t permissible for a person to sell the skin or any other part of his Udhiyah, and if he did then he is obligated to give that money in charity. However, he is allowed to give the skin or any other part-as Sadaqa (Voluntary charity)-to the butcher or anyone else provided that it isn`t given as a price for the slaughtering and skinning process. And Allah the Almighty knows best.
