What is the compensation required when a buyer returns multiple animals sold as 'musrat' (pre-milked) in a single transaction?
Chapter on Selling the Musarrah (Animal with milk retained in udder)
Al-Mughni
Book of Sales
Primary text
If a buyer purchases two or more animals in one contract and returns them due to the condition of being 'musrat,' the buyer must return one Sa' (measure) of dates for each individual animal returned. This view is held by Al-Shafi'i and some followers of Malik. The basis for this ruling is the generality of the Prophet's statement concerning both the 'musrat' animal and the 'mahfalah' animal (one whose udder is filled with milk), which applies to every instance, whether one or multiple animals are involved. Furthermore, what is stipulated as compensation for an item in two separate transactions must be required even if it occurs in a single transaction, analogous to the compensation for a defect.
Supporting text
Some followers of Malik argue that only a single Sa' of dates is required for the entire transaction, based on the hadith where the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: 'Whoever buys a 'musrat' sheep and milks it, if he is pleased, he keeps it, but if he is displeased, there is a Sa' of dates in its milk.' They interpret the singular pronoun in the hadith as referring only to one animal being returned.