42/35. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4354 — Allah’s Provision in a Time of Need
Dead Meat From The Sea
Jaish Al-Khabat Hadith: Necessity, Seafood, and Allah’s Provision
Sunan an-Nasai : 4354
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4354
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُقَدَّمٍ الْمُقَدَّمِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ بَعَثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ وَنَحْنُ ثَلاَثُمِائَةٍ وَبِضْعَةَ عَشَرَ وَزَوَّدَنَا جِرَابًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ فَأَعْطَانَا قَبْضَةً قَبْضَةً فَلَمَّا أَنْ جُزْنَاهُ أَعْطَانَا تَمْرَةً تَمْرَةً حَتَّى إِنْ كُنَّا لَنَمُصُّهَا كَمَا يَمُصُّ الصَّبِيُّ وَنَشْرَبُ عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ فَلَمَّا فَقَدْنَاهَا وَجَدْنَا فَقْدَهَا حَتَّى إِنْ كُنَّا لَنَخْبِطُ الْخَبَطَ بِقِسِيِّنَا وَنَسَفُّهُ ثُمَّ نَشْرَبُ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَاءِ حَتَّى سُمِّينَا جَيْشَ الْخَبَطِ ثُمَّ أَجَزْنَا السَّاحِلَ فَإِذَا دَابَّةٌ مِثْلُ الْكَثِيبِ يُقَالُ لَهُ الْعَنْبَرُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ مَيْتَةٌ لاَ تَأْكُلُوهُ . ثُمَّ قَالَ جَيْشُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَنَحْنُ مُضْطَرُّونَ كُلُوا بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ . فَأَكَلْنَا مِنْهُ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُ وَشِيقَةً وَلَقَدْ جَلَسَ فِي مَوْضِعِ عَيْنِهِ ثَلاَثَةَ عَشَرَ رَجُلاً - قَالَ - فَأَخَذَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ ضِلَعًا مِنْ أَضْلاَعِهِ فَرَحَلَ بِهِ أَجْسَمَ بَعِيرٍ مِنْ أَبَاعِرِ الْقَوْمِ فَأَجَازَ تَحْتَهُ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَا حَبَسَكُمْ " . قُلْنَا كُنَّا نَتَّبِعُ عِيرَاتِ قُرَيْشٍ وَذَكَرْنَا لَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ الدَّابَّةِ فَقَالَ " ذَاكَ رِزْقٌ رَزَقَكُمُوهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَمَعَكُمْ مِنْهُ شَىْءٌ " . قَالَ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ .
Jabir Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah sent us with Abu Ubaidah and we numbered over three hundred men. He supplied us with a sack of dates and gave them out by the handful. When he ran short, he gave us one date at a time, until we used to suck on it like an infant, and we would drink water with it. When we ran out of them it became very difficult for us. We used to hit the Khabat leaves with our bows to knock them down and swallow them, then drink water with it. We became known as Jaish Al-Khabat (the Khabat army).Then, when we were about to turn inland, we saw a beast like a hill, called Al-'Anbar. Abu 'Ubaidah said: 'It is dead meat, do not eat it.' Then he said: 'The army of the Messenger of Allah in the cause of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, and we are forced by necessity; eat in the name of Allah. 'So we ate from it and we made some if it into jerked meat. Thirteen men could sit in its eye-socket. Abu Ubaidah took one of its ribs and seated a man on the biggest camel that the people had, and they passed beneath it.When we came to the Messenger of Allah, he said: 'What kept you so long?' We said: The Quraish' and we told him about the beast. He said: 'That is provision that Allah granted to you. Do you have anything of it with you? "We said: ' Yes."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4354In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 92English translation : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 4359
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4354
This hadith gives a full picture of the hardship faced by the army known as Jaish Al-Khabat. More than three hundred men shared a sack of dates. Their portions fell from handfuls to one date each, which they sucked and followed with water. When the dates ended, they knocked khabat leaves from trees and ate them. At the coast they found the huge sea creature called Al-‘Anbar. Abu ‘Ubaidah first called it dead meat, then allowed the army to eat because they were in the cause of Allah and forced by necessity. They ate, preserved some meat, and later told the Prophet. He described it as provision Allah had granted them and asked whether any remained. The report joins hardship, necessity, and grateful recognition of provision.
What we learn from this hadith
- The army carefully rationed its small supply of dates.
- Their hunger became so severe that they ate khabat leaves.
- Abu ‘Ubaidah allowed the whale because the group was in necessity.
- The Prophet described the animal as provision granted by Allah.
