Narrated Ibn Abi `Aufa: We participated with the Prophet in six or seven Ghazawat, and we used to eat locusts with him.
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
Eating locusts is permissible without hesitation.
This is both a blessing and a punishment, because wherever they attack, the crops are destroyed—except as Allah wills.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 5495
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
In one narration, it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) also used to eat it. (Fath al-Bari: 9/769)
However, it is narrated from Salman al-Farisi (radi Allahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was asked about locusts, and he replied:
“It is among Allah’s great armies; I neither eat it nor declare it unlawful.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, al-At’imah, Hadith: 3813)
But its chain of narration is weak, and Imam Abu Dawud (rahimahullah) has indicated its being mursal.
In another narration, it is referred to as game of the sea. Thus, Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) reports that once we set out with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) for Hajj or ‘Umrah, and we encountered a swarm of locusts.
We began striking them with our sandals and staffs, so the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Eat it, for it is game of the sea.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, al-Sayd, Hadith: 3222)
However, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has declared its chain of narration to be weak.
(Fath al-Bari: 9/768) (2)
Imam Nawawi (rahimahullah) has transmitted consensus (ijma‘) on its permissibility; however, Imam Ibn al-‘Arabi has detailed regarding the locusts of Hijaz and Andalus, stating that the locusts found in Andalus are poisonous and harmful, therefore they should not be eaten.
If this is correct, then exempting them from permissibility is reasonable.
(Fath al-Bari: 9/769)
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 5495
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
Benefit: This is a winged insect that destroys crops.
Because it is lawful (halal), it is eaten without slaughtering.
It is a well-known hadith that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Two dead animals (not slaughtered) have been made lawful for us.
One is fish, the other is locust.
(Sunan Ibn Majah, al-Sayd, Hadith: 3218)
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 3812
Hafiz Muhammad Ameen
“In six battles”: In the previous narration, mention is made of seven battles. Six is not contrary to seven.
Source: Sunan Nasa'i: Translation and Benefits by Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Amin Hafizullah, Page: 4362
Hafiz Muhammad Ameen
This locust referred to here is not the common locust found in homes, but rather the locust which is also called a spider, the one that even devours crops. This is a lawful (halal) animal. There is also no need to slaughter it, because the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: [أُحِلَّتْ لنا مَيْتتانِ و دَمانِ، الجرادُ والحيتانُ والكبدُ والطحالُ ] “Two dead animals and two types of blood have been made lawful for us. The two dead animals (that are not slaughtered) are the locust (spider) and fish. And the two types of blood are the liver and the spleen.” (Musnad Ahmad: 2/97 and Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi: 1/254) In this as well, like fish, there is no dam masfuh (flowing blood).
Source: Sunan Nasa'i: Translation and Benefits by Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Amin Hafizullah, Page: 4361