My father (may Allah (swt) be pleased with him) mentioned in his letter to me: "If you have the means to pay for a sacrificial animal but cannot find the animal itself, leave the price with a trustworthy person from the people of Mecca so that they may purchase and slaughter it on your behalf in Dhul-Hijjah. If Dhul-Hijjah passes without it being purchased, postpone it until the next Dhul-Hijjah because the days of slaughter will have ended."