Nasai

Hadith Commentary:
The narration of Mu‘ammar has been recorded by Abu Dawud.
Isma‘ili has transmitted from Sufyan, who said: I have heard this hadith from al-Zuhri several times in this exact manner: "from ‘Abdullah, from Ibn ‘Abbas, from Maymunah." In no narration is it explicitly stated how far around the affected ghee should be removed.
This depends on each person's judgment; if the ghee or oil is thin, then in one narration it is mentioned that three handfuls should be removed, but this narration is weak.
Now, the oil or ghee that is no longer fit for consumption—its burning is permissible.
It is transmitted from Ibn ‘Umar (radi Allahu anhuma) that if the ghee is thin, it may be used for other purposes, but it should not be used for eating.
Maymunah (radi Allahu anha) was among the Mothers of the Believers, who entered the Prophet’s (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) marriage at the time of ‘Umrat al-Qada in the year 7 AH, and it is remarkable that she passed away at that very place later on.
She was the last of his wives from whom this narration is transmitted.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
In the narration of Sunan al-Nasa’i, there is an addition that the mouse falls into solidified (hardened) ghee.
(Sunan al-Nasa’i, al-Far‘ wal-‘Atirah, Hadith: 4263)
In one narration of Sahih al-Bukhari, there is an addition that after the mouse falls into the ghee, it dies in it.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Dhaba’ih, Hadith: 5538)
In Sunan Abi Dawud, there is further clarification, with the following words:
“If a mouse falls into the house, if the ghee is solid, then throw away the mouse and the ghee around it, and if the ghee is liquid, then do not go near it.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, al-At‘imah, Hadith: 3842)
From the hadith of Bukhari, only the ruling regarding the solid (ghee) is known, not the liquid, because if impurity falls into a liquid, it is not possible to determine and throw away the surrounding part, since whichever side you try to pour it from, immediately other parts will take its place from behind, and they too will become the surrounding parts, until the whole must be discarded. The ruling of discarding the surrounding (portion) can only be applied to solids; this ruling cannot be applied to liquids.
Although the hadith of Bukhari, in its wording and explicit meaning, does not indicate a distinction between liquid and solid, yet in its meaning and implication, it does indicate the difference between solid and liquid.
The aforementioned meaning of the hadith of Bukhari is also supported by the explicit wording of the hadith of Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu in Abu Dawud (No. 3842) and the hadith of Maymunah radi Allahu anha in Sunan al-Nasa’i (No. 4264).

➋
From a chapter heading established by Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah, it is understood that, according to him, there is no difference between solid and liquid. Thus, in the Book of Slaughtered Animals and Hunting, he establishes a chapter with these words:
(Bab: If a mouse falls into solid or melted ghee)
“When a mouse falls into solid or liquid ghee.”
Under this, he has mentioned the hadith of Maymunah, and he has also written, quoting Imam al-Zuhri rahimahullah, that he was asked: If any living creature (such as a mouse, etc.) falls into ghee or oil, whether it is solid or liquid, what is the ruling? He replied:
It has reached us that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said regarding a mouse that fell into ghee: Throw it and the ghee around it away.
It was thrown away, and the remainder was used.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Dhaba’ih wal-Sayd, Hadith: 5539)
But an objection is raised to this principle of Imam al-Zuhri rahimahullah: discarding the surrounding (portion) can be done in solids, but how can it be applied to liquids? Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has considered the narration:
“If it is liquid, do not go near it.”
to be defective, as Imam al-Tirmidhi rahimahullah has referenced his statement in his Sunan.
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, al-At‘imah, Hadith: 1798)
In any case, the correct view in this matter is that if impurity falls into ghee, honey, milk, water, etc., then if it is solid, the impurity and its surrounding should be thrown away, and the remainder is usable; and if it is liquid, then it should be discarded and not used.
And Allah knows best.

➌
The noble hadith scholars have differed regarding these ahadith: are they from the musnad narrations of Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu anhu, or are they counted among the musnad narrations of Maymunah radi Allahu anha? Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has given a decision at the end of both that the original hadith is Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu anhu from Maymunah radi Allahu anha, meaning that Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu anhu narrated this report from Maymunah radi Allahu anha, and it is from the musnad narrations of Maymunah radi Allahu anha.
Ma‘n (ibn ‘Isa) has repeatedly heard this narration from Imam Malik from the route of Ibn ‘Abbas from Maymunah radi Allahu anha, and this is the correct version.

Explanation:
Whether the water is little or much, as long as its color, smell, or taste is not altered by impurity, it does not become impure. This is the position of the Imams of Ahl al-Hadith. Those who have stipulated the condition of two qullahs or ten by ten (cubits) do not have strong evidence. «حديث الماءطهور لاينجسه شئي» is the fundamental proof in this matter. If the hair or feathers of a dead animal, or its bones such as ivory, fall into water or similar substances, the water, etc., does not become impure. This is the intent of the chapter by Imam Bukhari, quddisa sirruh. Some scholars have indeed made a distinction: if the clarified butter (ghee) is solidified, the remaining ghee can be used, but if it is melted and liquid, then all of it becomes unusable. This applies in the case where a mouse falls into it.

Hadith Commentary:
Whether the water is little or much, as long as impurity does not alter its color, smell, or taste, it does not become impure.
This is the position of the Imams of Ahl al-Hadith. The arguments of those who have stipulated a restriction of two qullahs or more are not strong.
The hadith:
"Water is pure and nothing makes it impure" () is the foundational principle in this matter.
If the hair and feathers of dead animals, or their bones—such as the tusks of an elephant—fall into water or similar substances, then that water or substance does not become impure.
This is the intent of the chapter heading by Imam al-Bukhari, quddisa sirruhu.
Some scholars have indeed made a distinction: if the ghee (clarified butter) is solidified, the remaining ghee can be used, but if it is melted and in liquid form, then all of it becomes unusable.
This is in the case where a mouse falls into it.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
In the narration of Sunan al-Nasa’i, there is this addition: that a mouse falls into solidified ghee.
(Sunan al-Nasa’i, al-Far‘ wal-‘Atirah, Hadith: 4263)
In one narration of Sahih al-Bukhari, there is the addition that after the mouse falls into the ghee, it dies in it.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Dhaba’ih, Hadith: 5538)
In Sunan Abi Dawud, there is further clarification, with the following words:
“If a mouse falls into the house, if the ghee is solidified, then throw away the mouse and the ghee around it, and if the ghee is liquid, then do not go near it.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, al-At‘imah, Hadith: 3842)
From the hadith of Bukhari, only the ruling regarding the solidified (ghee) is known, not that of the liquid, because if impurity falls into a liquid, it is not possible to determine and throw away the surrounding part, since whichever side you try to pour it from, other parts will immediately take its place from behind, and they too will become the surrounding parts, until the whole must be discarded. The ruling of discarding the surrounding area (alqa’ al-mahawl) can only be applied to solids, not to liquids.
Although the hadith of Bukhari, in its wording and explicit meaning, does not indicate a distinction between liquid and solid, yet in its meaning and implication, it does indicate the difference between solid and liquid.
The aforementioned meaning of the hadith of Bukhari is also supported by the explicit wording of the hadith of Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu in Abu Dawud (No. 3842) and the hadith of Maymunah radi Allahu anha in Sunan al-Nasa’i (No. 4264).

➋
From a chapter heading established by Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah, it is understood that, according to him, there is no difference between solid and liquid. Thus, in the Book of Slaughtered Animals and Hunting, he establishes a chapter with these words:
(Bab idha waqa‘at al-fa’rah fi al-samin al-jamid aw al-dha’ib)
“When a mouse falls into solid or liquid ghee.”
Under this, he has mentioned the hadith of Maymunah, and he has also written, quoting Imam al-Zuhri rahimahullah, that he was asked: If any living creature (such as a mouse, etc.) falls into ghee or oil, whether it is solid or liquid, what is the ruling? He replied:
It has reached us that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said regarding a mouse that fell into ghee: throw it and the ghee around it away.
It was thrown away, and the remainder was used.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Dhaba’ih wal-Sayd, Hadith: 5539)
However, an objection is raised to this principle of Imam al-Zuhri rahimahullah: discarding the surrounding area (alqa’ al-mahawl) can be done in solids, but how can it be applied to liquids? Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has considered the narration:
“If it is liquid, do not go near it.”
to be defective, as Imam al-Tirmidhi rahimahullah has referenced his statement in his Sunan.
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, al-At‘imah, Hadith: 1798)
In any case, the correct view in this matter is that if impurity falls into ghee, honey, milk, water, etc., then if it is solid, the impurity and its surrounding area should be thrown away, and the remainder is usable; and if it is liquid, it should be discarded and not used.
And Allah knows best.

➌
The noble hadith scholars have differed regarding these ahadith: are they from the musnad of Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu anhu, or are they counted among the musnad of Maymunah radi Allahu anha? Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has given a decision at the end of both that the original hadith is Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu anhu from Maymunah radi Allahu anha, meaning that Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu anhu narrated this report from Maymunah radi Allahu anha, and it is from the musnad of Maymunah radi Allahu anha.
Ma‘n (ibn ‘Isa) has repeatedly heard this narration from Imam Malik from the route of Ibn ‘Abbas from Maymunah radi Allahu anha, and this is what is correct.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
According to Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, there is no difference between solidified and melted clarified butter (ghee). Its ruling is the same: the affected ghee should be discarded and the rest may be consumed. Similarly, Imam Zuhri rahimahullah also does not differentiate between solidified and melted ghee, nor does he distinguish between ghee and other substances.
(2)
Although ghee is mentioned in the hadith, oil and similar substances have been analogically compared to it. In a narration from Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu, a distinction is made between solidified and melted ghee; the wording is that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
“When a mouse falls into ghee, if it is solidified, then throw away the mouse and the ghee around it, and if it is melted, then do not go near it.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, Foods, Hadith: 3842)
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has declared this hadith weak, as is evident from the context of the ahadith he has mentioned. Most hadith scholars have permitted, in the case of ghee or oil—even if it is melted—to remove all the affected oil from around the area and use the remainder. Nowadays, edible oils are imported from abroad. Rats and similar creatures are permanently resident in these ships. If, due to a single rat falling into a filled ship, all the oil had to be discarded, it would be an irreparable loss. On this basis, the position of Imam Bukhari rahimahullah appears weighty: that no distinction should be made between solidified and melted ghee. There is no hadith that explicitly states how far around the affected area the ghee should be removed; this is left to each person’s discretion. In one narration, it is mentioned that if the ghee is not solidified, then three handfuls should be removed (Majma‘ al-Zawa’id: 1/287, no. 1591), but Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has declared it weak. (Fath al-Bari: 9/828)

Explanation:
1:
But the condition is that it should be a solidified (congealed) substance,
and if it is liquid, then the entire thing must be discarded.

2:
The aforementioned narration of Mu‘ammar is from Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq,
and there is also a narration from Mu‘ammar in al-Nasa’i (no. 4265) from Maymunah, in which the distinction between “liquid and non-liquid” is just as it is in the narration of Abu Hurayrah,
although, from the perspective of chain of transmission and the principles of hadith science, both these narrations are subject to criticism,
however, in one concise narration in al-Nasa’i, the wording is “solidified ghee” (saman jamid), and this chain is authentic,
in any case, even if one takes the concise narration of the Sahihayn, “around the edges” can only apply to ghee that is solid,
in liquid, there cannot be any “around the edges”,
because the mouse would keep moving around in it.

Benefits and Issues:
Benefit: After removing the affected surrounding ghee as far as it has been contaminated, the remaining ghee is permitted to be used.
In the following two hadiths, the difference between solidified and melted ghee is explained.
The hadith that comes later has been declared weak by the hadith scholars, and even by Imam Bukhari, due to several defects and errors.
However, most jurists have stated that if the ghee is solidified, then after removing the mouse along with the surrounding ghee, the rest may be used.
If it is melted, then it should not be used for eating.
The fatwa of Ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu is also the same.
Some hadith scholars have permitted that whether the ghee or oil is melted,
if all the affected oil is removed from the surrounding area, the rest may be used.
Edible oil is imported from Malaysia and other places in large ships.
In these ships, mice and the like often make their permanent homes, and if the entire oil had to be discarded due to a single mouse falling in, it would be an irreparable loss.
Imam Bukhari’s opinion also supports this.

English Translation:

A mouse becomes impure upon dying. In any case, it is a forbidden animal, but if the clarified butter (ghee) is solidified, its impurity does not permeate the entire ghee. Therefore, the ghee near the mouse that has been affected by it—for example, if there is contamination in it—should be thrown out along with the mouse, and the remaining ghee is pure and clean. There is consensus to this extent. However, if the ghee is in a liquid state, then according to the majority of scholars, based on this hadith, it should be discarded because it has become impure. Some scholars have also acted upon the earlier method in this case: that the mouse and the ghee surrounding it should be thrown out, and the rest of the ghee may be used. According to them, a liquid does not become impure until its color, smell, or taste changes due to the impurity. Therefore, if the death of the mouse does not cause any change in the (liquid) ghee, it is not impure and may be used. They consider this hadith to be weak (Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah has also declared it shaadh. See: Da‘eef Sunan an-Nasa’i by al-Albani, no. 4271), but Imam Ibn Hibban rahimahullah has declared this hadith to be authentic. In any case, in the case of a liquid, it is possible that after dying, the mouse floated in it. In such a situation, the entire ghee would be considered its environment, so all the ghee would have to be discarded. Moreover, in a liquid, it is difficult to determine the ghee close to the mouse, so the position of the majority of scholars is closer to caution, and this should be adopted. And Allah knows best.

Benefit:
This hadith explains the situation where, if the clarified butter (ghee) is solidified (congealed), then a little of the ghee from that spot and its surroundings should be thrown away, and the rest may be consumed. However, if the ghee is in liquid form, then all of it must be poured out. It is also understood from this that the mouse is impure (najis) and also forbidden (haram). Some people, in their hotels, make minced meat of mouse and put it in samosas and other items, which is a major sin and a deception against Muslims. May Allah instill His fear in all Muslims, Ameen.