Is it necessary to donate the price of a cow that was intended for sacrifice to Allah, but then sold after the intention to sacrifice it was abandoned?

Nothing is binding upon the inquirer, nor is he required to pay the price of the commodity as long as he did not utter the words of a vow. This is because mere intention and what crosses one's mind are not binding, as it is authentically reported in the two Sahih collections that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, Allah has forgiven my nation for what they merely think to themselves, as long as they do not speak of it or act upon it." A vow must be uttered verbally in a way that indicates commitment, and mere intention is not sufficient for its validity.