42/35. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4353 — The Prophet Approved the Beached Whale
Dead Meat From The Sea
Beached Whale Hadith: The Prophet’s Approval of Sea Food
Sunan an-Nasai : 4353
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4353
أَخْبَرَنَا زِيَادُ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ بَعَثَنَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ فِي سَرِيَّةٍ فَنَفِدَ زَادُنَا فَمَرَرْنَا بِحُوتٍ قَدْ قَذَفَ بِهِ الْبَحْرُ فَأَرَدْنَا أَنْ نَأْكُلَ مِنْهُ فَنَهَانَا أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ ثُمَّ قَالَ نَحْنُ رُسُلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كُلُوا . فَأَكَلْنَا مِنْهُ أَيَّامًا فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَخْبَرْنَاهُ فَقَالَ " إِنْ كَانَ بَقِيَ مَعَكُمْ شَىْءٌ فَابْعَثُوا بِهِ إِلَيْنَا " .
Jabir Narrated from:
The Prophet sent us with Abu 'Ubaidah on a campaign. Our supplies ran out. Then we passed by a whale that had been cast ashore by the sea. We wanted to eat from it, but Abu 'Ubaidah told us not to. Then he said: 'We are the envoys of the Messenger of Allah for the sake of Allah, so eat. So we ate from it for several days. When we came to the messenger of Allah we told him about that and he said: 'If you have anything left of it then send it to us.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4353In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 91English translation : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 4358
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4353
This hadith records a campaign led by Abu ‘Ubaidah in which the companions’ supplies ran out. They came across a whale that the sea had cast ashore and wanted to eat it. Abu ‘Ubaidah first stopped them, then considered their situation: they were messengers of the Messenger of Allah, traveling for the sake of Allah, and they had no food. He then told them to eat. They ate from the whale for several days. When they returned and told the Prophet what had happened, he asked them to send some to him if any remained. This request clearly showed approval of the food they had eaten. The narration is a direct source for searches about beached whale meat and seafood in Islam.
What we learn from this hadith
- The companions’ supplies ran out during the campaign.
- Abu ‘Ubaidah reconsidered after recognizing their urgent need.
- They ate from the whale for several days.
- The Prophet asked for some of the meat if any remained.
