The prohibition of eating the meat of domesticated donkeys

'Ali b. Abi Talib reported that Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade on the Day of Khaibar temporary marriage (Muta') with women and the eating of the flesh of domestic asses.

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ، اللَّهِ وَالْحَسَنِ ابْنَىْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِيهِمَا، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَهَى عَنْ مُتْعَةِ النِّسَاءِ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ وَعَنْ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ الإِنْسِيَّةِ .

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri through a different chain of transmitters with a slight variation of wording.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، وَحَرْمَلَةُ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَفِي حَدِيثِ يُونُسَ وَعَنْ أَكْلِ، لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ الإِنْسِيَّةِ .

Abu Tha'laba reported that Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited (the eating) of the flesh of domestic asses.

وَحَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، بْنِ سَعْدٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ صَالِحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا إِدْرِيسَ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا ثَعْلَبَةَ قَالَ حَرَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لُحُومَ الْحُمُرِ الأَهْلِيَّةِ .

Ibn Umar reported that Allah's Messenger ﷺ forbade the eating of the flesh of domestic asses.

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنِي نَافِعٌ، وَسَالِمٌ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَهَى عَنْ أَكْلِ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ الأَهْلِيَّةِ .

Ibn 'Umar reported that Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade the eating of the (flesh) of domestic asses on the Day of Khaibar in spite of the fact that people needed that.

وَحَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَكْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي نَافِعٌ، قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَمَعْنُ بْنُ عِيسَى، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ أَكْلِ الْحِمَارِ الأَهْلِيِّ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ وَكَانَ النَّاسُ احْتَاجُوا إِلَيْهَا .

Shaibani reported: I asked 'Abdullah b. Abu Aufa about (the lawfulness or unlawfulness of) the flesh of the domestic asses. He said: We experienced hunger on the Day of Khaibar as we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. We found domestic asses in the exterior of Medina. We slaughtered them and our earthen pots were boiling when the announcer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made an announcement that the earthen pots should be turned upside down and nothing of the flesh of the domestic asses should be eaten. I said: What kind of prohibition is it that he (the Holy Prophet) has made? He said: We discussed it amongst -ourselves. Some of us aaid that it has been declared unlawful for ever, (whereas others said) it has been declared unlawful since one-fifth (of the booty) has not been given (to the treasury, as is legally required).

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَبِي أَوْفَى عَنْ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ الأَهْلِيَّةِ، فَقَالَ أَصَابَتْنَا مَجَاعَةٌ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ وَنَحْنُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَدْ أَصَبْنَا لِلْقَوْمِ حُمُرًا خَارِجَةً مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ فَنَحَرْنَاهَا فَإِنَّ قُدُورَنَا لَتَغْلِي إِذْ نَادَى مُنَادِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنِ اكْفَئُوا الْقُدُورَ وَلاَ تَطْعَمُوا مِنْ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ شَيْئًا فَقُلْتُ حَرَّمَهَا تَحْرِيمَ مَاذَا قَالَ تَحَدَّثْنَا بَيْنَنَا فَقُلْنَا حَرَّمَهَا أَلْبَتَّةَ وَحَرَّمَهَا مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّهَا لَمْ تُخَمَّسْ .

Sulaiman Shaibini reported: I heard Abdullah b. Abu Aufa say: We were smitten with hunger during the nights of Khaibar. On the Day of Khaibar, we fell upon domestic asses and we slaughtered them, and when our earthen pots boiled with them, the announcer of Messenger of Allah ﷺ made an annoancement that the earthen pots should be turned over, and nothing should be eaten of the flesh of the domestic asses. Some of the people said that Messenger of Allah ﷺ had forbidden (the use of this flesh) for one-fifth (due to the State) has not been paid, while others said: He prohibited it for ever.

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كَامِلٍ، فُضَيْلُ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ زِيَادٍ - حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ الشَّيْبَانِيُّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَبِي أَوْفَى، يَقُولُ أَصَابَتْنَا مَجَاعَةٌ لَيَالِيَ خَيْبَرَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ خَيْبَرَ وَقَعْنَا فِي الْحُمُرِ الأَهْلِيَّةِ فَانْتَحَرْنَاهَا فَلَمَّا غَلَتْ بِهَا الْقُدُورُ نَادَى مُنَادِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنِ اكْفَئُوا الْقُدُورَ وَلاَ تَأْكُلُوا مِنْ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ شَيْئًا - قَالَ - فَقَالَ نَاسٌ إِنَّمَا نَهَى عَنْهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لأَنَّهَا لَمْ تُخَمَّسْ . وَقَالَ آخَرُونَ نَهَى عَنْهَا أَلْبَتَّةَ .

'Adi (he was the son of Thabit) said: I heard al-Bara' and 'Abdullah b. Abu Aufa say: We found domestic asses and we cooked them. Then the announcer of Messenger of Allah ﷺ made an announcement that the earthen pots should be turned over.

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَدِيٍّ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ ثَابِتٍ - قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ، وَعَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَبِي أَوْفَى، يَقُولاَنِ أَصَبْنَا حُمُرًا فَطَبَخْنَاهَا فَنَادَى مُنَادِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ اكْفَئُوا الْقُدُورَ .

Al-Bara' said: We found on the Day of Khaibar domestic asses, and the announcer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made an announcement that the earthen pots should be turned over.

وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ قَالَ الْبَرَاءُ أَصَبْنَا يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ حُمُرًا فَنَادَى مُنَادِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنِ اكْفَئُوا الْقُدُورَ .

Bara was heard saying: We were forbidden (to eat) the flesh of the domestic asses.

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ بِشْرٍ، عَنْ مِسْعَرٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ، يَقُولُ نُهِينَا عَنْ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ الأَهْلِيَّةِ، .

Bara' b. 'Azib reported: Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to throw away the flesh of domestic asses whether uncooked or cooked;
he then never commanded us to eat that. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Asim with the same chain of transmitters.

وَحَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، قَالَ أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ نُلْقِيَ لُحُومَ الْحُمُرِ الأَهْلِيَّةِ نِيئَةً وَنَضِيجَةً ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْمُرْنَا بِأَكْلِهِ .

Ibn 'Abbas reported: I do not know whether Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited (the eating of the domestic ass) due to the fact that they were the beasts of burden for the people, so he (the Holy Prophet) did not like their beasts of burden to be destroyed (as a matter of expediency), or he prohibited the use of the flesh of domestic asses (not as an expediency but as a law of the Shari'ah) on the Day of Khaibar.

وَحَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ الأَزْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي إِنَّمَا نَهَى عَنْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّهُ كَانَ حَمُولَةَ النَّاسِ فَكَرِهَ أَنْ تَذْهَبَ حَمُولَتُهُمْ أَوْ حَرَّمَهُ فِي يَوْمِ خَيْبَرَ لُحُومَ الْحُمُرِ الأَهْلِيَّةِ .

Salama b. Akwa' reported: We went to Khaibar with Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Then Allah granted (us) victory over them. On that very evening of the day when they had been granted victory, they lit many fires. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: What are those fires and what for those have been lit? They said: (These have been lit) for (cooking) the flesh. Thereupon he said: Of what flesh? They said: For the flesh of the domestic asses. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace bo upon him) said: Throw that away and break them (the earthen pots in which the fiesa was being cooked). A person said: Messenger of Allah, should we throw it away and wash them (the cooking pots)? He said: You may do so.

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ - عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الأَكْوَعِ، قَالَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى خَيْبَرَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ فَتَحَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ فَلَمَّا أَمْسَى النَّاسُ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي فُتِحَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَوْقَدُوا نِيرَانًا كَثِيرَةً فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " مَا هَذِهِ النِّيرَانُ عَلَى أَىِّ شَىْءٍ تُوقِدُونَ " قَالُوا عَلَى لَحْمٍ . قَالَ " عَلَى أَىِّ لَحْمٍ " . قَالُوا عَلَى لَحْمِ حُمُرٍ إِنْسِيَّةٍ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " أَهْرِيقُوهَا وَاكْسِرُوهَا " . فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَوْ نُهَرِيقُهَا وَنَغْسِلُهَا قَالَ " أَوْ ذَاكَ " .

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Yazid b. Abu Ubaid.

وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، وَصَفْوَانُ بْنُ عِيسَى، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ النَّضْرِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ النَّبِيلُ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ .

Anas reported: When Messenger of Allah ﷺ conquered Khaibar, we caught hold of the asses outside the village. We cooked them (their flesh). Then the announcer of Messenger of Allah ﷺ made the announcement: Listen, verily Allah and His Messenger have prohibited you (the eating of) their (flesh), for it is a loathsome evil of Satan's doing. Then the earthen pots were turned over along with what was in them, and these were brimming (with flesh) at that time.

وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ لَمَّا فَتَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَيْبَرَ أَصَبْنَا حُمُرًا خَارِجًا مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ فَطَبَخْنَا مِنْهَا فَنَادَى مُنَادِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَلاَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يَنْهَيَانِكُمْ عَنْهَا فَإِنَّهَا رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ . فَأُكْفِئَتِ الْقُدُورُ بِمَا فِيهَا وَإِنَّهَا لَتَفُورُ بِمَا فِيهَا .