Is it permissible to sell meat for an animal of the same species?
Chapter on Riba (Usury) and Exchange (Sarf)
Al-Mughni
Book of Sales
Primary text
The sale of meat for a live animal of the same species is forbidden. This is the established view of Malik, Shafi'i, and the seven jurists of Medina. Evidence for this prohibition includes the report that the Prophet (PBUH) forbade exchanging meat for an animal, and another report that he forbade exchanging a live animal for a dead one. Furthermore, meat is a commodity subject to usury (Riba) being exchanged for its origin (the animal) which contains it, making it impermissible, similar to sesame seeds for sesame oil.
Supporting text
An opinion attributed to Malik permits selling meat for an animal not raised specifically for meat. Abu Hanifa permitted it absolutely, arguing that the commodity subject to Riba (meat) is being exchanged for something not subject to Riba (the animal, in this context, as it is not meat yet), analogous to exchanging meat for dirhams or for meat of a different species.