64/38. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4198 — Forbidding Domestic Donkey Meat at Khaibar
Ghazwa of Khaibar
Donkey Meat Hadith: The Khaibar Announcement
Sahih Bukhari : 4198
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4198
أَخْبَرَنَا صَدَقَةُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ صَبَّحْنَا خَيْبَرَ بُكْرَةً، فَخَرَجَ أَهْلُهَا بِالْمَسَاحِي، فَلَمَّا بَصُرُوا بِالنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالُوا مُحَمَّدٌ وَاللَّهِ، مُحَمَّدٌ وَالْخَمِيسُ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ خَرِبَتْ خَيْبَرُ، إِنَّا إِذَا نَزَلْنَا بِسَاحَةِ قَوْمٍ فَسَاءَ صَبَاحُ الْمُنْذَرِينَ ". فَأَصَبْنَا مِنْ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ فَنَادَى مُنَادِي النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يَنْهَيَانِكُمْ عَنْ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ، فَإِنَّهَا رِجْسٌ.
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
We reached Khaibar early in the morning and the inhabitants of Khaibar came out carrying their spades, and when they saw the Prophet (ﷺ) they said, "Muhammad! By Allah! Muhammad and his army!" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allahu-Akbar! Khaibar is destroyed, for whenever we approach a (hostile) nation (to fight) then evil will be the morning for those who have been warned." We then got the meat of donkeys (and intended to eat it), but an announcement was made by the announcer of the Prophet, "Allah and His Apostle forbid you to eat the meat of donkeys as it is an impure thing."
[1] They came at night and stayed near to Khaibar till morning when they attacked it.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4198In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 238USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 510
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4198
This donkey meat hadith is from the events of Khaibar. Anas bin Malik said they reached Khaibar early in the morning. The people came out carrying spades, saw the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and recognized him and his army. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said 'Allahu Akbar' and spoke about the warned people. Then the Muslims obtained donkey meat. Before eating continued, the announcer of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم announced that Allah and His Messenger forbade them from eating the meat of donkeys, saying it was impure. The text is direct, so the explanation should stay direct as well. The core topic is obedience to a food prohibition when the Prophet’s command is announced.
What we learn from this hadith
- The people of Khaibar recognized the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his army in the morning.
- The Muslims had obtained donkey meat during the event.
- The Prophet’s announcer declared the prohibition to the people.
- The reason stated in the narration is that it was impure.
