41/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4225 — A Better Use for the Firstborn Animal
There Is No Fara ' And No 'Atirah
Fara Hadith: Raising the Animal for Greater Benefit
Sunan an-Nasai : 4225
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4225
أَخْبَرَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَجِيدِ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْحَنَفِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَمْرَو بْنَ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، { عَنْ أَبِيهِ، } وَزَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ الْفَرَعَ . قَالَ " حَقٌّ فَإِنْ تَرَكْتَهُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ بَكْرًا فَتَحْمِلَ عَلَيْهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوْ تُعْطِيَهُ أَرْمَلَةً خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَذْبَحَهُ فَيَلْصَقَ لَحْمُهُ بِوَبَرِهِ فَتُكْفِئَ إِنَاءَكَ وَتُوَلِّهَ نَاقَتَكَ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَالْعَتِيرَةُ قَالَ " الْعَتِيرَةُ حَقٌّ " . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْحَنَفِيُّ هُمْ أَرْبَعَةُ إِخْوَةٍ أَحَدُهُمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَبِشْرٌ وَشَرِيكٌ وَآخَرُ .
'Amr bin Shu'aib bin Muhammad bin 'Abdullah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
'Amr bin Shu'aib bin Muhammad bin 'Abdullah bin 'Amr (narrated) that his father and Zaid bin Aslam said: "O Messenger of Allah! (What about) the Fara'?" He said: "It is a duty, but if you leave it (the animal) until it becomes half-grown and you load upon it (in Jihad) in the cause of Allah or give it to a widow, that is better than if you slaughter it (when it is just born) and its flesh is difficult to separate from its skin, then you turn your vessel upside down (because you will no longer be able to get milk from the mother) and you cause your she-camel to grieve (at the loss of its young)."They said: "O Messenger of Allah, (what about) the 'Atirah?" He said: "The 'Atirah is a duty." (Hasan) Abu 'Abdur-Rahman (An-Nasa'i) said: Abu 'Ali Al-Hanafi (one of the narrators); they are four brothers: One of them is Abu Bakr, and Bishr, and Sharik, and the other.
[1] " Haqqun ", it carries the meaning of: 'it is not falsehood,' as well, and perhaps this is the intent.[1] See the previous footnote.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4225In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 4English translation : Vol. 5, Book 41, Hadith 4230
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4225
This hadith discusses the Fara, the firstborn animal mentioned by the questioners. The Prophet said it was a duty in this report, but he then described a better course than slaughtering the animal immediately after birth. It could be left until it became half-grown, then used to carry loads in the cause of Allah or given to a widow. Early slaughter would provide little usable meat, stop the household from benefiting from the mother's milk, and cause the mother animal distress. The report then records a question about Atirah, which is also called a duty in its wording. The main practical message is to consider lasting benefit, useful service, and support for a widow instead of acting too quickly.
What we learn from this hadith
- The firstborn animal could be raised until it became more useful.
- Giving the grown animal to a widow is described as better than early slaughter.
- The animal could also be used to carry loads in the cause of Allah.
- The report points out the loss of meat, milk, and benefit caused by early slaughter.
