37/30. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2119b — Tahnik and Branding the Flock
The Permissibility Of Branding Animals Anywhere But On The Face, And This Is Recommended In The Case Of Animals Given As Zakat Ot Jizyah
Hadith About Tahnik and Branding Animals on the Ears
Sahih Muslim : 2119b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2119b
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسًا، يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ أُمَّهُ، حِينَ وَلَدَتِ انْطَلَقُوا بِالصَّبِيِّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُحَنِّكُهُ قَالَ فَإِذَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي مِرْبَدٍ يَسِمُ غَنَمًا . قَالَ شُعْبَةُ وَأَكْثَرُ عِلْمِي أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي آذَانِهَا .
Anas Narrated from:
Anas reported that when his mother gave birth to a child they brought that child to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) so that he might chew some dates and touch his palate with them. and Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) was at that time in the fold busy in cauterising the animals Shu'ba said: So far as I know (he was cauterising) their ears.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2119bIn-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 166USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 24, Hadith 5286
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2119b
The core topic here is tahnik with a second detail about animal branding. Anas reported that when his mother gave birth, they brought the child to Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم so that he might chew dates and touch the baby's palate with them. At that time, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was in the fold, busy cauterising or branding animals. Shu'ba added that, as far as he knew, the branding was on their ears. The Hadith is useful for people searching for tahnik hadith, newborn baby in Islam, or Prophet branding animals. It shows that the baby's tahnik was sought from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and it also records a careful detail about where the animals may have been marked. The wording includes uncertainty, so the explanation should also keep that caution.
What we learn from this hadith
- The newborn was brought to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for tahnik with dates.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was busy branding animals at the time.
- Shu'ba reported the ear detail with caution.
- The Hadith teaches us to preserve careful wording when narrators express uncertainty.
