It is permissible
for seven people to share a cow for Udhiyah. If it is permissible for seven to
share a single cow, then it is even more permissible for fewer than seven to
share it, with the additional share being voluntary, just as if one person were
to slaughter a cow for Udhiyah, even though a sheep would suffice.
Imaam ash- Shaafi’ee (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “If
they are less than seven, it suffices them, and they are considered to be
giving the extra portion as charity, just as a camel suffices for someone
obligated to give a sheep, and they are considered to be giving the extra
portion as charity instead of the sheep.” [Al-Umm, 2/244]
Al-Kasaanee said: “There
is no doubt about the permissibility of sacrificing a camel or a cow for fewer
than seven people, whether two, three, four, five, or six share in a camel or a
cow; because since seventh is permissible, then more is even more so. It makes
no difference whether the shares are equal in quantity or different, such that
one of them gets half while the other gets a third, and the other gets a sixth,
provided that it does not fall below seventh.” [Badaa’ as-Sanaa’ 5/71].