35/5. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1972c — Storing Udhiyah Meat
The prohibition of eating sacrificial meat for more than three days, which applied at the beginning of Islam but was then abrogated, and now it is permissible to eat it as long as one wants.
Storing Udhiyah Meat After Three Days: Hadith Explained
Sahih Muslim : 1972c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1972c
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ بْنُ عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كُنَّا لاَ نُمْسِكُ لُحُومَ الأَضَاحِيِّ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ فَأَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ نَتَزَوَّدَ مِنْهَا وَنَأْكُلَ مِنْهَا . يَعْنِي فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
We did not eat the flesh of sacrificed animals beyond three (days), but then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) commanded us to make it a provision for journey and cat it (beyond three days).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1972cIn-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 43USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 22, Hadith 4859
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1972c
This hadith about storing udhiyah meat is another clear report from Jabir b. Abdullah. He said that they did not keep the meat of sacrificed animals beyond three days. Then Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded them to make provision from it and eat from it, meaning beyond three days. The wording directly answers a common search question: can sacrificial meat be kept after three days? In this report, the later command allowed them to keep it as food and eat from it after that period. The lesson is balanced and simple. The meat of the sacrifice is a blessing to use responsibly, not something to waste when there is permission to eat and take provision from it.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Companions had previously not kept the meat beyond three days.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded them to use it as provision.
- The report clearly mentions eating beyond three days.
- The text points to responsible use rather than waste.
