Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), in the year of the Conquest, when he was in Makkah, say: "Indeed, Allah and His Messenger have forbidden selling alcohol, dead animals, swine, and idols." It was said: "O Messenger of Allah, what about the fat of dead animals that is used for coating boats and daubing hides, and people use it for lighting purposes?" He said: "No, it is forbidden." Then, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "May Allah destroy the Jews. Indeed, Allah had forbidden fat to them, but they melted it and then sold it and consumed its price."
Indeed, Allah and His Messenger have forbidden selling alcohol, dead animals, swine, and idols
GradingAuthentic
AttributionAgreed upon
Explanation
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say in the year of the Conquest, while he was in Makkah: Allah and His Messenger have forbidden the sale of wine, dead animals, pork, and idols. It was said: O Messenger of Allah, is it permissible to sell the fat of dead animals? It is used to coat ships and daub hides, and people light their lamps with it. He said: No, selling it is forbidden. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: May Allah destroy the Jews and curse them. When Allah forbade them the fat of animals, they melted it and then sold its fat and consumed its price.
Lessons
- An-Nawawi said: Dead animals, alcohol, and swine: Muslims unanimously agreed over the prohibition of selling each of them.
- Al-Qādi said: This Hadīth indicates that what is not lawful to eat and utilize is not permissible to sell or consume from its profits, as is the case with the fat mentioned in the Hadīth.
- Ibn Hajar said: Its context gives a strong feeling, as interpreted by the majority of scholars, that "it is forbidden" refers to selling, not utilizing.
- Every means that leads to making something unlawful as lawful is wrong.
- The scholars said: Falling under the general prohibition of selling dead animals is the prohibition to sell the dead body of a disbeliever, if we kill him and the disbelievers ask to buy him or pay compensation for him. It is reported in a Hadīth that Nawfal ibn ‘Abdullāh al-Makhzūmi was killed by Muslims during the battle of the Trench, and the disbelievers paid to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ten thousand Dirhams for his body, but he did not take it, and he gave the body to them.
Topics
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