Volume 3, Book 29, Number 48:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Abu Qatada:
That his father said “We proceeded with the Prophet in the year of Al-Hudaibiya and his compan –
ions assumed Ihram but I did not. We were informed that some enemies were at Ghaiqa and so we
went on towards them. My companions saw an onager and some of them started laughing among
themselves. I looked and saw it. I chased it with my horse and stabbed and caught it. I wanted some
help from my companions but they refused. (I slaughtered it all alone). We all ate from it (i.e. its
meat). Then I followed Allah’s Apostle lest we should be left behind. At times I urged my horse to run
at a galloping speed and at other times at an ordinary slow speed. On the way I met a man from the
tribe of Bani Ghifar at midnight. I asked him where he had left Allah’s Apostle . The man replied that
he had left the Prophet at a place called Ta’hun and he had the intention of having the midday rest at
As-Suqya. So, I followed Allah’s Apostle till I reached him and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I have been
sent by my companions who send you their greetings and compliments and ask for Allah’s Mercy
and Blessings upon you. They were afraid lest the enemy might intervene between you and them; so
Volume 3 – 416 / 1700
SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 3 > BOOK 29: PENALTY OF HUNTING WHILE ON PILGRIMMAGE
please wait for them.” So he did. Then I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! We have hunted an onager and have
some of it (i.e. its meat) left over.” Allah’s Apostle told his companions to eat the meat although all of
them were in a state of Ihram.”

Volume 3, Book 29, Number 50:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Abu Qatada:
That his father had told him that Allah’s Apostle set out for Hajj and so did his companions. He
sent a batch of his companions by another route and Abu Qatada was one of them. The Prophet said
to them, “Proceed along the sea-shore till we meet all together.” So, they took the route of the sea-
shore, and when they started all of them assumed Ihram except Abu Qatada. While they were pro –
ceeding on, his companions saw a group of onagers. Abu Qatada chased the onagers and attacked
and wounded a she-onager. They got down and ate some of its meat and said to each other: “How do
we eat the meat of the game while we are in a state of Ihram?” So, we (they) carried the rest of the
she-onager’s meat, and when they met Allah’s Apostle they asked, saying, “O Allah’s Apostle! We as –
sumed Ihram with the exception of Abu Qatada and we saw (a group) of onagers. Abu Qatada at –
tacked them and wounded a she-onager from them. Then we got down and ate from its meat. Later,
we said, (to each other), ‘How do we eat the meat of the game and we are in a state of Ihram?’ So, we
carried the rest of its meat. The Prophet asked, “Did anyone of you order Abu Qatada to attack it or
point at it?” They replied in the negative. He said, “Then eat what is left of its meat.”

Volume 3, Book 29, Number 47:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Abu Qatada:
My father set out (for Mecca) in the year of Al-Hudaibiya, and his companions assumed Ihram,
but he did not. At that time the Prophet was informed that an enemy wanted to attack him, so the
Prophet proceeded onwards. While my father was among his companions, some of them laughed
among themselves. (My father said), “I looked up and saw an onager. I attacked, stabbed and caught
it. I then sought my companions’ help but they refused to help me. (Later) we all ate its meat. We
were afraid that we might be left behind (separated) from the Prophet so I went in search of the
Prophet and made my horse to run at a galloping speed at times and let it go slow at an ordinary
speed at other times till I met a man from the tribe of Bani Ghifar at midnight. I asked him, “Where
did you leave the Prophet ?” He replied, “I left him at Ta’hun and he had the intention of having the
midday rest at As-Suqya. I followed the trace and joined the Prophet and said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle!
Your people (companions) send you their compliments, and (ask for) Allah’s Blessings upon you.
They are afraid lest they may be left behind; so please wait for them.’ I added, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! I
hunted an onager and some of its meat is with me. The Prophet told the people to eat it though all of
them were in the state of Ihram.”