72/11. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5492 — Eat, It Is a Meal Allah Offered
To hunt on mountains
Hunting in Ihram Hadith: Abu Qatada and the Onager
Sahih Bukhari : 5492
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5492
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرٌو، أَنَّ أَبَا النَّضْرِ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، مَوْلَى أَبِي قَتَادَةَ وَأَبِي صَالِحٍ مَوْلَى التَّوْأَمَةِ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِيمَا بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَالْمَدِينَةِ وَهُمْ مُحْرِمُونَ وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ حِلٌّ عَلَى فَرَسٍ، وَكُنْتُ رَقَّاءً عَلَى الْجِبَالِ، فَبَيْنَا أَنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ إِذْ رَأَيْتُ النَّاسَ مُتَشَوِّفِينَ لِشَىْءٍ، فَذَهَبْتُ أَنْظُرُ، فَإِذَا هُوَ حِمَارُ وَحْشٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ مَا هَذَا قَالُوا لاَ نَدْرِي. قُلْتُ هُوَ حِمَارٌ وَحْشِيٌّ. فَقَالُوا هُوَ مَا رَأَيْتَ. وَكُنْتُ نَسِيتُ سَوْطِي فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ نَاوِلُونِي سَوْطِي. فَقَالُوا لاَ نُعِينُكَ عَلَيْهِ. فَنَزَلْتُ فَأَخَذْتُهُ، ثُمَّ ضَرَبْتُ فِي أَثَرِهِ، فَلَمْ يَكُنْ إِلاَّ ذَاكَ، حَتَّى عَقَرْتُهُ، فَأَتَيْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ قُومُوا فَاحْتَمِلُوا. قَالُوا لاَ نَمَسُّهُ. فَحَمَلْتُهُ حَتَّى جِئْتُهُمْ بِهِ، فَأَبَى بَعْضُهُمْ، وَأَكَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ، فَقُلْتُ أَنَا أَسْتَوْقِفُ لَكُمُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَدْرَكْتُهُ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ الْحَدِيثَ فَقَالَ لِي " أَبَقِيَ مَعَكُمْ شَىْءٌ مِنْهُ ". قُلْتُ نَعَمْ. فَقَالَ " كُلُوا فَهْوَ طُعْمٌ أَطْعَمَكُمُوهَا اللَّهُ ".
Abu Qatadah Narrated from:
I was with the Prophet (on a journey) between Mecca and Medina, and all of them, (i.e. the Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions) were in the state of Ihram, while I was not in that state. I was riding my horse and I used to be fond of ascending mountains. So while I was doing so I noticed that the people were looking at something. I went to see what it was, and behold it was an onager.I asked my companions, "What is that?" They said, "We do not know." I said, "It is an onager.' They said, "It is what you have seen." I had left my whip, so I said to them, "Hand to me my whip." They said, "We will not help you in that (in hunting the onager)." I got down, took my whip and chased the animal (on my horse) and did not stop till I killed it.I went to them and said, "Come on, carry it!" But they said, "We will not even touch it." At last I alone carried it and brought it to them. Some of them ate of it and some refused to eat of it. I said (to them), "I will ask the Prophet (ﷺ) about it (on your behalf)." When I met the Prophet, I told him the whole story. He said to me, "Has anything of it been left with you?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Eat, for it is a meal Allah has offered to you."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5492In-book reference : Book 72, Hadith 18USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 67, Hadith 400
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5492
This hunting in Ihram hadith gives the fuller story of Abu Qatada between Mecca and Medina. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the companions were in Ihram, while Abu Qatada was not. He saw an onager and asked for his whip, but they said they would not help him with it. He took it himself, chased the animal, killed it, and carried it back alone when they refused to touch it. Some companions ate and some refused. Abu Qatada then said he would ask the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for them. When he told the full story, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked if any meat remained. Abu Qatada said yes, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to eat, calling it a meal Allah had offered them.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abu Qatada was not in Ihram while the others were.
- The companions refused to help him hunt or carry the animal.
- Some companions ate, while others waited for guidance.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم allowed them to eat what remained.
