Is it permissible for more than one person to share in the price of the ram for sacrifice (kabsh al-udhiyah)? And does the reward differ if beef or other meat is purchased from the butcher instead, given the high price of rams and the scarcity of their meat, which is insufficient to meet the needs of the poor?

If the ram is intended as an Udhiyah (sacrificial animal), then it is not permissible to share in its price, nor is it sufficient to buy meat and distribute it as an Udhiyah. However, if the ram is not intended as an Udhiyah, such as if it is a charity (sadaqa), then there is no harm in sharing in its price, and each participant will receive reward commensurate with what they paid. It is also permissible to buy meat and distribute it to the poor, and this might be better and more beneficial for them.