64/38. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4199 — The Pots Were Upset After Donkey Meat Was Forbidden
Ghazwa of Khaibar
Domestic Donkey Meat Hadith: Obeying the Prophet’s Food Command
Sahih Bukhari : 4199
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4199
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَاءَهُ جَاءٍ فَقَالَ أُكِلَتِ الْحُمُرُ. فَسَكَتَ، ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّانِيَةَ فَقَالَ أُكِلَتِ الْحُمُرُ. فَسَكَتَ، ثُمَّ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ أُفْنِيَتِ الْحُمُرُ. فَأَمَرَ مُنَادِيًا فَنَادَى فِي النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يَنْهَيَانِكُمْ عَنْ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ الأَهْلِيَّةِ. فَأُكْفِئَتِ الْقُدُورُ، وَإِنَّهَا لَتَفُورُ بِاللَّحْمِ.
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
Someone came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)s and said, "The donkeys have been eaten (by the Muslims)." The Prophet kept quiet. Then the man came again and said, "The donkeys have been eaten." The Prophet (ﷺ) kept quiet. The man came to him the third time and said, "The donkeys have been consumed." On that the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered an announcer to announce to the people, "Allah and His Apostle forbid you to eat the meat of donkeys." Then the cooking pots were upset while the meat was still boiling in them.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4199In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 239USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 511
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4199
This domestic donkey meat hadith shows quick obedience to the Prophet’s command. Anas bin Malik narrated that someone came to Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم saying the donkeys had been eaten. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم remained silent. The report came again, and he remained silent. The third time, the person said the donkeys had been consumed. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ordered an announcer to tell the people that Allah and His Messenger forbade them from eating the meat of domestic donkeys. The people overturned their cooking pots while the meat was still boiling. The main teaching is clear: when the command was announced, they stopped even though the food was already prepared.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم waited until the report was brought repeatedly, then ordered an announcement.
- The prohibition named domestic donkey meat in this narration.
- The companions overturned the pots while the meat was still boiling.
- Obedience came immediately after the Prophet’s command was made public.
