Maliks Muwatta Book 36, Hadith Number 14B.

Section : Judgement on Consumption of Other Peoples’ Animals.

Yahya said that he heard Malik say, “What is done in our community about someone who consumed an animal without the permission of its owner, is that he must pay its price on the day he consumed it. He is not obliged to replace it with a similar animal nor does he compensate the owner with any kind of animal. He must pay its price on the day it was consumed, and giving the value is more equitable in compensation for animals and goods.”

Yahya said that he heard Malik say about someone who consumes some food without the permission of its owner, “He returns to the owner a like weight of the same kind of food. Food is in the position of gold and silver. Gold and silver are returned with gold and silver. The animal is not in the position of gold in that. What distinguishes between them is the sunna and the behaviour which is in force.

Yahya said that he heard Malik say, “If a man is entrusted with some wealth and then trades with it for himself and makes a profit, the profit is his because he is responsible for the property until he returns it to its owner.”

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