Sharḥ ʿUmdatul Aḥkām
Kitāb al-Aṭʿimah – The Book of Eating
Translated Abu Ubaydah
Translated, Checked & Additional Notes
Abu Hibban & Abu Khuzaimah Ansaari
The Gift of Game (Meat)
[369] Narrated Anas Ibn Malik (Radi Allahu Anhu):
We chased a rabbit at Mari-al-Zahran and the people ran after it but were exhausted. I got close and caught it, and gave it to Abu Talha who slaughtered it and sent it to Allah’s Apostle (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). The Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) accepted that.
[GRADING] – [BUKHARI]
[REFERENCES]
Transmitted by
Bukhari, Book of gifts, Chapter: The gift of game and the book of Hunting, Slaughtering no.2572, see also no’s 5489, 5535
Muslim no.1953, Abu Dawud no.3791, Tirmidhi no.1789, Nasai, 7:197, Ibn Majah no.3243, Ahmad 3:118
[RULINGS FROM THE HADITH]
1) The rabbit meat is halal and is an excellent type of (meat). It can either be wild or tame as a household animal. In either situation it is lawful to eat.
2) The Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) accepted gifts even if the amount was small.
3) It is the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) to give gifts to each other. The people of faith should adhere and commit to doing this.
4) A rabbit can be slaughtered.
5) Eating it is lawful without a doubt and some narrations mention that the thigh was presented to the Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam) and he ate it.
6) Whoever hunts an animal; he can give the meat to his friends or leader.
7) The animal that is caught during hunting belongs to the one who hunted it and he may do whatever he wishes with it.
8) Some scholars have cited consensus in rabbit (meat) being lawful and permissible to eat and Abdullah ibn Umar (RadhiAllahu Anhu), Ikrimah and Ibn Abi Layla said it was makruh [Fath al-Bari [11:98].