Ibn Hibban

Abu Ahwas narrates from his father: I presented myself before the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He inquired: Is it so that the camels of your people give birth to healthy and sound-eared offspring, then someone takes a razor and cuts its ear, and says: This is Bahira (i.e., dedicated to such-and-such idol), or he slits its skin and says: This is Sarm (i.e., dedicated to such-and-such idol), and then that person declares this camel forbidden for himself and his family? The narrator says: I replied: Yes. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Whatever Allah grants you is lawful. Allah’s wrist is stronger than your wrist, and Allah’s razor is sharper than your razor.

(Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) The words of the narration: “Allah’s wrist is stronger than your wrist,” are according to the idiom of the people, because the meaning can only be conveyed to the listener according to their idiom. The statement of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Everything that Allah has given you is lawful for you,” here, literally, is in the imperative form, but what is meant by it is to prohibit that thing because of this practice, and that is the people’s behavior regarding camels: they cut their ears and slit their skins, then declare them forbidden for themselves.