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Is Donkey Meat Halal?

07-07-2006

Question 85534

Is it permissible to eat donkey meat?

Summary of answer:

It is permissible to eat the meat of wild donkeys and it is haram to eat the meat of domesticated donkeys.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Is the meat of wild donkeys halal?

It is permissible to eat the meat of onagers (“wild donkeys”) and it is haram to eat the meat of domesticated donkeys. The first is permitted because of the report narrated by al-Bukhari (5492) and Muslim (1196) from Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) who hunted an onager and brought a piece of it to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and he ate some of it, and he said to his Companions: “It is halal, eat it.” 

Is the meat of domesticated donkeys halal?

With regard to domesticated donkeys, their meat was permitted at first, then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) declared it to be haram on the day of Khaybar. 

Al-Bukhari (5520) narrated that Jabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: On the day of Khaybar, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade the meat of domesticated donkeys, but he granted us a concession allowing us to eat the meat of horses. 

Al-Bukhari (5527) and Muslim (1936) narrated that Abu Tha’labah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade the meat of domesticated donkeys. 

Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

“Most of the scholars believe that the meat of domesticated donkeys is haram. Ahmad said: Fifteen of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) regarded it as makruh (in the sense of being haram). Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said: There is no difference of opinion among the Muslim scholars today concerning the fact that it is haram.” (Al-Mughni, 9/324)

For more, please see these answers: 144738 , 1101 , 336476

And Allah knows best.

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