Buying a slaughtered sheep to offer it as Ud-hiyah

Q: Is it permissible for a person to buy a slaughtered and skinned sheep and offer it as Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) for `Eid-ul-Adha (the Festival of the Sacrifice)? I mean, if one went to the market but he found no sheep, and so he had to buy a slaughtered and skinned sheep. Is it sufficient in place of Ud-hiyah or not?

A: The Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) is not accepted if bought slaughtered and skinned, because there was no intention of its being an Ud-hiyah on behalf of its donator at the time of the slaughtering. It is regarded as (Part No. 10; Page No. 421) allowable meat and not an Ud-hiyah. If someone bought a slaughtered Ud-hiyah, they should buy an Ud-hiyah in place of it during the rest of the four days, which are the day of `Eid-ul-Adha (the Festival of the Sacrifice) and the following three days.May Allah grant us success. May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions!