42/31. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4341 — Domestic Donkey Meat Is Not Permissible
Prohibition Of Eating The Flesh Of Domesticated Donkeys
Is Domestic Donkey Meat Halal? A Direct Hadith from Khaibar
Sunan an-Nasai : 4341
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4341
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، أَنْبَأَنَا بَقِيَّةُ، عَنْ بَحِيرٍ، عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ مَعْدَانَ، عَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي ثَعْلَبَةَ الْخُشَنِيِّ، أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ، غَزَوْا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى خَيْبَرَ وَالنَّاسُ جِيَاعٌ فَوَجَدُوا فِيهَا حُمُرًا مِنْ حُمُرِ الإِنْسِ فَذَبَحَ النَّاسُ مِنْهَا فَحُدِّثَ بِذَلِكَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَوْفٍ فَأَذَّنَ فِي النَّاسِ " أَلاَ إِنَّ لُحُومَ الْحُمُرِ الإِنْسِ لاَ تَحِلُّ لِمَنْ يَشْهَدُ أَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ " .
Abu Tha'labah Al-Khushani Narrated from:
It was narrated from Abu Tha''Aabah Al-Khushani that: they went on a military campaign with the Messenger of Allah to Khaibar, and the people were starving. They found some domesticated donkeys there, so the people slaughtered some of them. The Prophet was told about that, and he ordered 'Abdur-rahman bin 'Awf to announce to the people: "The flesh of domesticated donkeys is not permissible for the one who testifies that I am the Messenger of Allah."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4341In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 79English translation : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 4346
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4341
This hadith gives a direct answer to the question, is domestic donkey meat halal? During the campaign to Khaibar, the people were very hungry and found domesticated donkeys. Some of them slaughtered the animals, but when the Prophet learned what had happened, he ordered ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf to make a public announcement. The message was that the flesh of domesticated donkeys was not permissible for those who testified that Muhammad was the Messenger of Allah. The hunger in the story makes the command stand out. The people had a strong need for food, yet the ruling was still announced clearly. The hadith focuses on domestic donkeys and shows the importance of checking whether food is permitted before eating it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Severe hunger did not change the stated prohibition on domestic donkey meat.
- The Prophet ordered the ruling to be announced to all the people.
- Muslims should check the permissibility of food before eating it.
- The ruling in this report concerns domesticated donkeys.
