Abu Qatada (Allah be pleased with him) reported that while he was with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on one of the highways of Mecca, he lagged behind him (the Holy Prophet) along with companions who were in the state of Ihram, whereas he was himself not Muhrim. He saw a wild ass. As he was mounting his horse he asked his companions to pick up for him his whip (which had dropped) but they refused to do so. He asked them to hand him over the spear, but they refused. He then himself took hold of it and chased the wild ass and killed it. Some of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (way peace be upon him) ate (its meat), but some of them refused to do so. They overtook the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and asked him about it, and he said:
It is a food which Allah provided you (so eat it).
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، فِيمَا قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِ عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، مَوْلَى أَبِي قَتَادَةَ عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، - رضى الله عنه - أَنَّهُ كَانَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ بِبَعْضِ طَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ تَخَلَّفَ مَعَ أَصْحَابٍ لَهُ مُحْرِمِينَ وَهُوَ غَيْرُ مُحْرِمٍ فَرَأَى حِمَارًا وَحْشِيًّا فَاسْتَوَى عَلَى فَرَسِهِ فَسَأَلَ أَصْحَابَهُ أَنْ يُنَاوِلُوهُ سَوْطَهُ فَأَبَوْا عَلَيْهِ فَسَأَلَهُمْ رُمْحَهُ فَأَبَوْا عَلَيْهِ فَأَخَذَهُ ثُمَّ شَدَّ عَلَى الْحِمَارِ فَقَتَلَهُ فَأَكَلَ مِنْهُ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبَى بَعْضُهُمْ فَأَدْرَكُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلُوهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ
" إِنَّمَا هِيَ طُعْمَةٌ أَطْعَمَكُمُوهَا اللَّهُ "
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