Lu'lu' wal-Marjan

When Sayyiduna Sa'b bin Jaththamah Al-Laithi رضي الله عنه was at Abwa or Waddan, he presented a wild donkey as a gift to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, but he returned it. Then, when he saw the look of displeasure on their faces, he said, "The only reason for returning it is that we are in the state of Ihram."

Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that we were with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) at the place of Qahah. Some of us were in the state of ihram and some were not. I saw that my companions were showing something to each other. When I looked up, there was a wild donkey (onager) in front of us. Their intention was that their whip had fallen (and they asked their companions to pick it up), but the companions said, "We cannot help you at all because we are in the state of ihram." So I picked it up myself. After that, I approached the wild donkey from behind a mound and hunted it. Then I brought it to my companions. Some said that we should eat it, but others said that we should not eat it. Then I went to the service of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who was ahead of us. I asked you about the matter, and you said, "Eat it, it is lawful."

Abdullah (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated that my father (Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah, may Allah be pleased with him) set out at the time of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (to gather information about the enemy). His companions assumed ihram, but he himself had not yet done so. (In fact,) someone had informed the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that (at the place of Ghaiqah) the enemy was lying in wait for him, so the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent (Abu Qatadah and a few companions) to search for them. My father (Abu Qatadah, may Allah be pleased with him) was with his companions, and they began to laugh while looking at each other. (My father narrated that) when I looked up, I saw a wild donkey in front of me. I rushed at it and killed it with my spear. I had sought help from my companions, but they refused. Then we ate the meat. Now we became afraid that we might be left far behind (from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), so I began searching for him, sometimes speeding up my horse and sometimes slowing down. Eventually, late at night, I met a man from Banu Ghifar. I asked him, "Where is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)?" He replied, "When I left him, he was at the place of Ta‘hn, and he intended to reach the place of Suqya and rest there at noon." (So I presented myself before the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,) and I said, "O Messenger of Allah, your companions send peace and Allah's mercy upon you. They fear that they may be left far behind, so please wait for them." Then I said, "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), I hunted a wild donkey, and some of its meat is still with me." He instructed the people to eat from it, even though they were all in the state of ihram.

Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) set out with the intention of Hajj, and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) were also with him. He sent a group of Companions, among whom was Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him), back along the route with the instruction: "You people go along the riverbank (and find out about the enemy), then join us again." So this group went along the riverbank. On the way back, all of them had put on Ihram except Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him), who had not yet put on Ihram. As this caravan was moving, several wild donkeys appeared. Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) attacked them and hunted a female among them. Then, stopping at a place, all of them ate its meat, but at the same time, the thought occurred: "Can we eat the meat of hunted animals even though we are in the state of Ihram?" So whatever meat was left, we brought it along with us. And when we reached the service of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), we submitted: "O Messenger of Allah, all of us were in Ihram, but Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) had not put on Ihram. Then we saw wild donkeys, and Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) attacked them and hunted a female among them. After that, we stopped at a place and ate its meat. Then the thought occurred: 'Can we eat the meat of hunted animals even though we are in the state of Ihram?' Therefore, whatever meat was left, we have brought it with us." He asked: "Did any of you tell Abu Qatadah to hunt? Or did anyone point towards that animal?" All replied: "No." Upon this, he said: "Then eat the remaining meat as well."