Nasai

(1) The narrations mentioned under this chapter clearly prove that the dhab (monitor lizard) is lawful (halal). It can be eaten without any doubt. However, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was not accustomed to it, so naturally he did not like it. Otherwise, it was eaten in his presence; if it had been unlawful (haram) or disliked (makruh), he would not have allowed it to be eaten. However, from the last three narrations, it is understood that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had some doubt regarding it, fearing that it might be from a transformed (metamorphosed) lineage. But in an authentic narration, he stated that a transformed lineage does not live for more than three days. It appears that initially he had a doubt, then Allah ta'ala informed him that it was not from a transformed lineage, because a transformed lineage does not live for more than three days. Therefore, the doubt mentioned in these narrations has no effect on the lawfulness (halal status) of the dhab. However, there is a narration in Sunan Abu Dawud, whose chain of transmission Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has declared hasan, and Shaykh Nasiruddin al-Albani rahimahullah has included it in Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah (2390). In this narration, it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam forbade eating the dhab. Undoubtedly, the narrations affirming its lawfulness are of the highest level of authenticity and are explicit, so this narration will be interpreted as referring to the period when the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had doubt about it being from a transformed lineage. On this basis, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam abstained from it. He neither commanded nor forbade the Companions radi Allahu anhum from eating it. Later, when he was informed of its lawfulness, he explicitly declared it halal, though he himself did not like it by nature, so he did not eat it. Therefore, reconciling between the narrations of prohibition and those of permissibility and lawfulness is best: the prohibition and dislike relate to the early period of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, while the permissibility and allowance relate to the later period. Yes, for one who naturally dislikes it, this will be considered as tanzih (discouragement without sin). And Allah knows best. For details, see the referenced source.

(2) Most translators render "dhab" as "goh" (varanid lizard), but this is absolutely incorrect. "Dhab" is the sand lizard (saanda), not the goh or monitor lizard. Although their appearance is somewhat similar, there is a fundamental difference: the goh eats frogs and lizards, etc., while the sand lizard (saanda) eats grass. Furthermore, the goh is larger in size than the sand lizard. The hadith mentions the consumption of the sand lizard's meat, but there is no mention of the goh.