72/34. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5540 — Food Purity and Clean Eating
If a mouse falls into solid or liquid butter-fat
Hadith About Mouse in Butter-Fat and Food Purity in Islam
Sahih Bukhari : 5540
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5540
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ مَيْمُونَةَ ـ رضى الله عنهم ـ قَالَتْ سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ فَأْرَةٍ سَقَطَتْ فِي سَمْنٍ فَقَالَ " أَلْقُوهَا وَمَا حَوْلَهَا وَكُلُوهُ ".
Maimuna Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about a mouse that had fallen into butter-fat (and died). He said, "Throw away the mouse and the portion of butter-fat around it, and eat the rest."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5540In-book reference : Book 72, Hadith 65USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 67, Hadith 448
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5540
This Hadith gives a clear and simple lesson about food purity in Islam. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was asked about a mouse that fell into butter-fat and died. His answer was practical: remove the mouse, throw away the butter-fat around it, and eat the rest. The main teaching is care without waste. The affected part is not ignored, but the whole food is also not thrown away without need. This makes the Hadith about mouse in butter-fat a useful guide for understanding clean food, careful eating, and balanced judgment. It shows that Islam teaches cleanliness while also avoiding needless loss.
What we learn from this hadith
- Remove what is clearly affected before using the remaining food.
- Cleanliness in food matters and should be handled with care.
- Do not waste what can still be used after the affected part is removed.
