Meat

Last week we discussed how Nabi ﷺ ate, this week we will focus on what Nabi ﷺ ate.

Abu Darda RA relates that Rasulullah ﷺ said: “The best food of the people of this world and the people of Paradise is meat.’” [Ibn Majah]

However, it was never the habit of Nabi ﷺ to eat meat excessively. Ibn al’Qayyim R says, `meat should not be consumed on a daily basis as this leads to blood-related illnesses. Eating meat consecutively for forty days hardens the heart. Rasulullah ﷺ did not eat meat continuously.’

The foreleg [Shin]

Ibn Mas’ud RA relates that Rasulullah ﷺ was fond of the foreleg. [The foreleg of a goat or sheep is implied]. [Shama’il] Abu Hurairah RA narrates that meat was brought to Rasulullah ﷺ and the foreleg was presented to him. Rasulullah ﷺ [held the bone in his hand and] began biting the meat with his teeth [instead of breaking pieces of meat with his hand]. [Bukhari] Ibn Mas’ud RA relates that Rasulullah ﷺ loved the foreleg most and this was the very portion which was poisoned and offered to him (by a Jewish woman].

The shoulder

Amr RA narrates that he saw Rasulullah ﷺ holding the shoulder portion with his hand whilst cutting off pieces from it and eating, [Bukhari]

Roasted meat

Abdullah RA says: ‘We ate roasted meat in the Masjid with Rasulullah ﷺ [Ibn Majah]. Mughirah RA says he accompanied Rasulullah ﷺ to a home where roasted meat was offered to them. Rasulullah ﷺ began cutting off portions of meat with a knife and offered it to him.

Meat with gravy

Anas RA narrates that a tailor invited Rasulullah ﷺ to a meal. Anas RA accompanied Rasulullah ﷺ to this invitation. He presented barley bread and meat in gravy with gourd.

The preferred method of eating meat

Safwan RA relates: ‘I was partaking of meals with Rasulullah ﷺ and I was breaking off meat from the bone as I ate. Rasulullah ﷺ said: ‘Lift the bone to your mouth [instead of breaking off pieces with your hand] as it is more delicious to eat in that manner.

Roasted liver

Abu Raafi’ RA narrates: ‘I once roasted the liver for Rasulullah ﷺ [Muslim]. A Hadith also states that the liver was the first part of the sacrificial animal which Rasulullah ﷺ ate.

The Feet

A`isha RA narrates: ‘We sometimes preserved the feet of a slaughtered animal and Rasulullah ﷺ would eat it after fifteen days.’ [Ibn Majah] A narration in Bukhari supports the above Hadith as it contains the following, ‘We would eat the feet of the animal fifteen days after Udhiyyah had passed.

Note: We learn that it is a Sunnah to eat the foot of the animal. We also learn that it is permissible to preserve Qurbani [sacrificial] meat. The Sahabah and Tabi’iin also employed methods of preserving meat. [Umdat al-Qari]

Camel meat

Jabir RA narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ instructed them to take a little meat from each of the slaughtered sacrificial camels. This was put into a pot and cooked. The Sahabah ate the meat and drank the gravy. [Ibn Majah]

Horse meat

No authentic narration permits us to consume horse meat. However, a reliable Hadith informs us that the Sahabah RA did slaughter a horse and consume its flesh in the era of Rasulullah ﷺ. [Tirmidhi] The Hanafi madhab maintains that eating horse flesh is makruh tanziihi [disliked] as horses are used for jihad and utilising them for commercial consumption purposes will be disadvantageous.

The flesh of Fowls

Abu Musa RA reports that he saw Rasulullah ﷺ eating the flesh of a fowl. Bukhari] Ibn al-Qayyim R says that chicken is not heavy on the stomach as it digests easily. It strengthens the brain and increases potency. It also clears the voice and is good for the skin. It produces good blood. However, it is detrimental to one who has gout. [This obviously applies to natural chickens not the genetically manufactured product eaten nowadays.]

Other Meat

There are various narrations that indicate that Nabi ﷺ ate the meat of other animals as well, these are Rabbit, White Antelope, Red-legged partridge, Hubara [Lark – goose – bustard], and Mountain Goat.

Beef

Narrations in Bukhari and Muslim pertaining to the farewell pilgrimage inform us that Rasulullah ﷺ slaughtered a cow and sent the meat to his wives. However, no Hadith states explicitly whether Rasulullah ﷺ ate beef or not. [However, a narration in Bukhari does mention that Rasulullah ﷺ would either slaughter a camel or a cow upon returning from a journey. There is a Hadith reported by A`isha RA in Sahih Muslim. It states that beef was once sent to Rasulullah ﷺ home. Rasulullah ﷺ was informed that Bareera RA had sent it and she had received it as sadaqah.’ Rasulullah ﷺ said: ‘It is sadaqah for her but a gift [hadiyyah] for us.’ This suggests that Rasulullah ﷺ may have eaten it. [Fatawa Abdul Hayy]

Fish

Jabir RA narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ sent three hundred companions – including him RA – on an expedition to capture a trade-caravan of the Quraysh. He narrates the following: ‘We camped at the sea-shore for approximately fifteen days. When our resources were depleted, we were faced with daunting hunger to the extent that we had to eat leaves to survive. One day the ocean spewed out an enormous fish, the likes of which we had never seen before. It was known as Ambar. We consumed its flesh for fifteen days and we also applied its fat on our bodies [as an ointment]. One day Abu Ubaydah RA took one of its ribs and erected it. It was so tall that a rider on horse-back could comfortably pass beneath it and five people could fit in the socket of its eye. We informed Rasulullah about our unusual experience upon our return to Madinah Munawwarah. Rasulullah told us that the meat was sustenance provided directly by Allah. Rasulullah ﷺ enquired if we had some of it left over. We had some left over and Rasulullah ﷺ ate it. ` [Bukhari]

Note: Authentic narrations establish that Rasulullah ﷺ ate fish. The first food to be consumed in paradise will be a specific organ of a fish.