42/31. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4339 — Immediate Obedience
Prohibition Of Eating The Flesh Of Domesticated Donkeys
Donkey Meat Prohibition and Immediate Obedience at Khaibar
Sunan an-Nasai : 4339
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4339
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْمُقْرِئُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أَوْفَى، قَالَ أَصَبْنَا يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ حُمُرًا خَارِجًا مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ فَطَبَخْنَاهَا فَنَادَى مُنَادِي النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ حَرَّمَ لُحُومَ الْحُمُرِ فَأَكْفِئُوا الْقُدُورَ بِمَا فِيهَا . فَأَكْفَأْنَاهَا .
Abdullah ibn AbuAwfa Narrated from:
On the Day of khaiber we caught some donkeys outside the village and we cooked them. Then the caller of the Prophet called out: 'The Messenger of Allah has forbidden the flesh of donkeys, so turn over your cooking pots with whatever is in them.' So we turned them over.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4339In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 77English translation : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 4344
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4339
This hadith shows both a food ruling and the companions’ immediate response. Abdullah bin Awfa said that on the Day of Khaibar they caught donkeys outside the village and cooked them. Then the Prophet’s caller announced that the Messenger of Allah had forbidden donkey flesh and ordered them to turn over the pots with everything inside. They did so. For people searching “donkey meat haram hadith,” the narration clearly records the prohibition. It also gives a practical picture of obedience: the food was already cooking, yet they stopped and emptied the pots when the command reached them. The report does not mention delay, argument, or an attempt to save the meal. Its message is direct compliance with the Prophet’s announced instruction, even after time and effort had already been spent.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet’s caller announced that donkey flesh was forbidden.
- The companions emptied the pots even though the meat was already cooking.
- Obedience may require leaving something after effort has already been spent.
