Muwatta Imam Malik (Riwayat Ibn al-Qasim)

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he was with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Abu Qatadah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When we were on one of the roads to Makkah, he and some of his companions lagged behind and they had not put on ihram. Then they saw a wild donkey (a lawful wild animal), so he mounted his horse and asked his companions to give him his whip, but the companions refused. Then he asked them to give him his spear, but the companions also refused, so he took it himself, then attacked the wild donkey and hunted it. Some of the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ate from the meat of that wild donkey, and some refused to eat. Then when they met the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), they asked him about this (hunting), so he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is (lawful) food which Allah has given you to eat.