Hadith of prohibition of Mut'ah at Khaybar

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Part of a series on the
Nikah Mut'ah
– a discipline of Islamic marital jurisprudence
Topics
Hadith regarding its legality
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One single (Arabic: Ahaad) famous recorded oral tradition among Muslims (Arabic: Hadith) is about the legality of temporary marriage (Arabic: Nikah Mut'ah) and the Battle of Khaybar.

Although that narration is prominently quoted and referred to, it is not given any formal name, in contrast to other hadith such as the Hadith of the pond of Khumm or the Hadith of Qur'an and Sunnah.

Contents

[edit] The narration

A narration attributed to Abd-Allah ibn Numayr from his father from Ubaidullah from Zuhri ibn Shab from Hasan and Abd-Allah from Mohammad ibn Ali reports:

“ Ali heard Ibn Abbas being lenient towards temporary marriage, so he said, "wait Ibn 'Abbas, the Messenger of Allah had forbidden it on the day of Khaybar when he also prohibited the meat of the donkey." ”

Timing:

The hadith refers to the Battle of Khaybar in Safar of 7 AH, on the evening of the victory.

[edit] Views

This hadith is primarily notable because it is very prominently referred to when discussing Hadiths regarding the legality of Nikah Mut'ah.

[edit] Sunni View

Most Sunnis regard this hadith as authentic (Sahih).

[edit] Positive

Most Sunni argue that this hadith unambiguously proves the prohibition of Mut'ah. This is mostly due to the hadith being included in the Two Sahihs: Sahi Muslim [1] and Sahih Bukhari [2], the later being referred to as "The most authentic book after the Qur'an" [3], and some have taunted the Shi'a for ignoring the verdicts (Arabic: fatwa) of Ali himself[citation needed].

Ibn Kathir, a 14th century Sunni Islamic scholar stated in his Tafsir of an-Nisa, 24 states [4]:

“ Mujahid stated that, (So with those among them whom you have enjoyed, give them their required due,) was revealed about the Mut`ah marriage. A Mut`ah marriage is a marriage that ends upon a predetermined date. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that the Leader of the Faithful `Ali bin Abi Talib said, "The Messenger of Allah prohibited Mut`ah marriage and eating the meat of domesticated donkeys on the day of Khayber (battle). In addition, in his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Ar-Rabi` bin Sabrah bin Ma`bad Al-Juhani said that his father said that he accompanied the Messenger of Allah during the victory of Makkah, and that the Prophet said, (O people! I allowed you the Mut`ah marriage with women before. Now, Allah has prohibited it until the Day of Resurrection. Therefore, anyone who has any women in Mut`ah, let him let them go, and do not take anything from what you have given them.) Allah's statement, (but if you agree mutually (to give more) after the requirement (has been determined), there is no sin on you.) is similar to His other statement". ”

A list of those scholars authenticating this hadith include:

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] Negative

However, there are some who those who are not equally convinced. Ibn al-Qayyim, a 14th century Sunni Islamic scholar writes [5]:

“ In Khayber there were no Muslim women since it was a Jewish settlement and up till then, Muslims were not permitted to marry Ahl'ul Kitab (Jews & Christians). The permission came later on in Surah Mai'da, Muslims were not supposed to contract marriage with Ahl'ul Kitab during the battle of Khayber, and in any case they were not interested in marrying the women of their enemies before Khayber was captured. And after the victory, the ladies were captives or "Mamlookeen" and there was no need to marry them. Concerning the story of Khayber, the companions of the Prophet (S) did not contract temporary marriage with Jewish women neither did the Prophet (S) allow it, and no one mentioned Mut'ah during the battle of Khayber, on whether it was permissible or unlawful. Similarly all Muslim scholars unanimously say that Mut'ah was permissible after Khayber and they believe that it was cancelled on the Day of Fath Makka (victory). Therefore, it is clear that though this tradition is one of the two strongest amongst all traditions concerning the revocation of Mut'ah, it is nevertheless shaky, and cannot revoke a verdict contained in the Qur'an. ”
“ If we accept that Mut'ah was cancelled on the Day of Khayber then what we are saying is that cancellation occurred twice and this has never happened in religion for sure and will not happen [6]. ”

Ibn Hajar Asqalani, a 15th century Sunni Shafi'i Islamic scholar writes:

“ On Mut'ah's prohibition comments of Ibn Abbas have a weak chain. Whilst his fatwa on Mut'ah's permissibility is more Sahih [7] ”

Ali al-Qari, a 17th century Sunni Hanafi Islamic scholar writes:

“ Ibn Zubayr mocked Ibn Abbas for issuing a fatwa on Mut'ah's permissibility and this event happened after the death of 'Ali, during the Khilafath of Ibn Zubayr and this proves that Ibn Abbas believed in the permissibility of Mut'ah until his dying days [8] ”

Others include:

Allamah ibn Barr said that the tradition on the prohibition of Mut'ah on the Day of Khayber is wrong.
The tradition prohibiting Mut'ah during the victory of Makka is more Sahih.
This is absolutely wrong. Temporary marriage never took place in Khayber.
  • Rowz Al Anf vol. 4 pg. 59 (printed 1391 AH)

This is something that no one involved in the Seerah and the history Muhammad has ever acknowledged (that Mut'ah was prohibited on Khayber).

  • Seera Halabiyah vol.3 pg.45

This is something that no one involved in the Seerah and the history of Muhammad has ever acknowledged (that Mut'ah was prohibited on Khayber).

"I have heard scholars saying that the tradition related of Ali only talked of the prohibition of the eating of the meat of domestic asses and there was no mention of Mut'ah, and the tradition is silent on that matter".

Then they quote Ibn Qayyim in Zad al-Ma'ad Volume 2 page 142:

If we accept that Mut'ah was cancelled on the Day of Khayber then what we are saying is that cancellation occurred twice and this has never happened in religion for sure and will not happen.

[edit] Shi'a View

On basis of isnad, Shias reject hadith from Zuhri ibn Shab referring to the Muslim agreed upon idea that hadith from people that hate Ali cannot be accepted. Shia further argue that it is strange that Sunnis regard this hadith as authentic, since Ibn Hajar Asqalani[9] graded the two sons of Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah to be weak, arguing that one was a murijee, and the other to be a Shi'a [10].

On basis of matn, Shi'a view other hadith testify to Ali blaiming Umar for its prohibition, and arguing that those hadith are more credible. Further, Shi'a quote the non-Shi'a scholars who agree that no prohibition took place at Khaybar.

Shia's argue that since in all the hadith in Sahi Bukhari and in Sahi Muslim, numerous Sahaba reported that Muhammad declared haram only the eating of domestic asses and onion (or garlic), but nobody mentioning any kind of Mut'ah of any sort, it can be deducted that either did Muhammad not mentioned Nikah Mut'ah in that speech in 7 AH, or everyone forgot to mention it in their narration, including Ali.

Considering that Ibn Abbas was arguing the issue with Ibn Zubair around 15 AH, this would mean that Ali waited with narrating this hadith to anyone for eight years.

Shi'a argue that the authenticity of this single narration is contradicted by all other narrations of the event:

[edit] Salama ibn al-Akwa

A narration attributed to Salama ibn al-Akwa reports:

“ ...let us enjoy his company longer." Then we reached and besieged Khaibar till we were afflicted with severe hunger. Then Allah helped the Muslims conquer it (i.e. Khaibar). In the evening of the day of the conquest of the city, the Muslims made huge fires. The Prophet said, "What are these fires? For cooking what, are you making the fire?" The people replied, "(For cooking) meat." He asked, "What kind of meat?" They (i.e. people) said, "The meat of donkeys." The Prophet said, "Throw away the meat and break the pots!" Some man said, "O Allah's Apostle! Shall we throw away the meat and wash the pots instead?" He said, "(Yes, you can do) that too." So when the army files were... ”

A narration attributed to Salama ibn al-Akwa reports:

“ We went to Khaibar with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him). Then Allah granted (us) victory over them. On that very evening of the day when they had been granted victory, they lit many fires. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: What are those fires and what for those have been lit? They said: (These have been lit) for (cooking) the flesh. Thereupon he said: Of what flesh? They said: For the flesh of the domestic asses. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Throw that away and break them (the earthen pots in which the fiesa was being cooked). A person said: Messenger of Allah, should we throw it away and wash them (the cooking pots)? He said: You may do so. ”

[edit] Anas ibn Malik

A narration attributed to Anas ibn Malik reports:

“ Someone came to Allah's Apostle and said, "The donkeys have been (slaughtered and) eaten. Another man came and said, "The donkeys have been destroyed." On that the Prophet ordered a caller to announce to the people: Allah and His Apostle forbid you to eat the meat of donkeys, for it is impure.' Thus the pots were turned upside down while the (donkeys') meat was boiling in them. ”

A narration attributed to Anas ibn Malik reports:

“ Someone came to Allah's Apostles and said, "The donkeys have been eaten (by the Muslims)." The Prophet kept quiet. Then the man came again and said, "The donkeys have been eaten." The Prophet kept quiet. The man came to him the third time and said, "The donkeys have been consumed." On that the Prophet ordered an announcer to announce to the people, "Allah and His Apostle forbid you to eat the meat of donkeys." Then the cooking pots were upset while the meat was still boiling in them. ”

Sahih Muslim 21:4777

A narration attributed to Anas ibn Malik reports:

“ When Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) conquered Khaibar, we caught hold of the asses outside the village. We cooked them (their flesh). Then the announcer of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) made the announcement: Listen, verily Allah and His Messenger have prohibited you (the eating of) their (flesh), for it is a loathsome evil of Satan's doing. Then the earthen pots were turned over along with what was in them, and these were brimming (with flesh) at that time. ”

Sahih Muslim 21:4778

A narration attributed to Anas ibn Malik reports:

“ When it was the Day of Khaibar a visitor came and said: Messenger of Allah, the asses have been eaten. Then another came and said: Messenger of Allah, the asses are being destroyed. Then Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded Abu Talha to make an announcement that Allah and His Messenger have prohibited you (from eating) of the flesh of (domestic) asses, for these are loathsome or impure. He (the narrator) said: The earthen pots were turned over along with what was in them. ”

[edit] Abdullah ibn Abu Aufa

A narration attributed to Abdullah ibn Abu Aufa reports:

“ We were afflicted with hunger during the besiege of Khaibar, and when it was the day of (the battle of) Khaibar, we slaughtered the donkeys and when the pots got boiling (with their meat). Allah's Apostle made an announcement that all the pots should be upset and that nobody should eat anything of the meat of the donkeys. We thought that the Prophet prohibited that because the Khumus had not been taken out of the booty (i.e. donkeys); other people said, "He prohibited eating them for ever." The sub-narrator added, "I asked Said bin Jubair who said, 'He has made the eating of donkeys' meat illegal for ever.") ”

A narration attributed to Abdullah ibn Abu Aufa reports:

“ We where afflicted with severe hunger on the day of Khaibar. While the cooking pots were boiling and some of the food was well-cooked, the announcer of the Prophet came to say, "Do not eat anything the donkey-meat and upset the cooking pots." We then thought that the Prophet had prohibited such food because the Khumus had not been taken out of it. Some others said, "He prohibited the meat of donkeys from the point of view of principle, because donkeys used to eat dirty things." ”

A narration attributed to Sulaiman Shaibini reports:

“ I asked Abdullah ibn Abu Aufa about (the lawfulness or unlawfulness of) the flesh of the domestic asses. He said: We experienced hunger on the Day of Khaibar as we were with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). We found domestic asses in the exterior of Medina. We slaughtered them and our earthen pots were boiling when the announcer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) made an announcement that the earthen pots should be turned upside down and nothing of the flesh of the domestic asses should be eaten. I said: What kind of prohibition is it that he (the Holy Prophet) has made? He said: We discussed it amongst -ourselves. Some of us said that it has been declared unlawful forever, (whereas others said) it has been declared unlawful since one-fifth (of the booty) has not been given (to the treasury, as is legally required). ”

[edit] Al-Bara ibn Azib

A narration attributed to Al-Bara ibn Azib reports:

“ During the Ghazwa of Khaibar, the Prophet ordered us to throw away the meat of the donkeys whether it was still raw or cooked. He did not allow us to eat it later on. ”

A narration attributed to Adi ibn Thabit said that he heard Al-Bara ibn Azib and Abdullah ibn Abu Aufa reports:

“ We found domestic asses and we cooked them. Then the announcer of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) made an announcement that the earthen pots should be turned over. ”

[edit] Jabir ibn Abd-Allah

A narration attributed to Jabir ibn Abd-Allah reports:

“ We ate during the time of Khaibar the (flesh) of horses and of wild asses, but Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited us (to eat) the flesh of domestic asses. ”

Above hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Jurayj.

A narration attributed to Jabir ibn Abd-Allah reports:

“ The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: He who eats garlic or onion should remain away from us or from our mosque and stay in his house. A kettle was brought to him which had (cooked) vegetables in it, He smelt (offensive) odour in it. On asking he was informed of the vegetables (cooked in it). He said: Take it to such and such Companion. When he saw it, he also disliked eating it. (Upon this), he (the Holy Prophet) said: You may eat it, for I converse wkh one with whom you do not converse. ”

A narration attributed to Jabir ibn Abd-Allah reports:

“ The Prophet said, "Whoever eats garlic or onion should keep away from our mosque or should remain in his house." (Jabir bin 'Abdullah, in another narration said, "Once a big pot containing cooked vegetables was brought. On finding unpleasant smell coming from it, the Prophet asked, 'What is in it?' He was told all the names of the vegetables that were in it. The Prophet ordered that it should be brought near to some of his companions who were with him. When the Prophet saw it he disliked to eat it and said, 'Eat. (I don't eat) for I converse with those whom you don't converse with (i.e. the angels)." ”

[edit] Abd-Allah ibn Umar

A narration attributed to Abd-Allah ibn Umar reports:

“ On the day of Khaiber, Allah's Apostle forbade the eating of garlic and the meat of donkeys. ”

A narration attributed to Ibn Umar reports:

“ During the holy battle of Khaibar the Prophet said, "Whoever ate from this plant (i.e. garlic) should not enter our mosque." ”

A narration attributed to Abd-Allah ibn Umar reports:

“ Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the eating of the (flesh) of domestic asses on the Day of Khaibar in spite of the fact that people needed that. ”

A narration attributed to Abd-Allah ibn Umar reports:

“ Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the eating of the (flesh) of domestic asses on the Day of Khaibar in spite of the fact that people needed that. ”

[edit] Abu Tha'alba

A narration attributed to Abu Tha'alba reports:

“ Allah's Apostle prohibited the eating of donkey's meat. ”

[edit] Ibn Abbas

A narration attributed to Ibn Abbas reports:

“ I do not know whether the Prophet forbade the eating of donkey-meat (temporarily) because they were the beasts of burden for the people, and he disliked that their means of transportation should be lost, or he forbade it on the day of Khaibar permanently. ”

See also Sahih Bukhari 7:67:437

[edit] Targeting Ali and Ibn Abbas

They further argue that even if they were to accept that Mut'ah was forbidden on the Day of Khayber, there is still a question regarding why Ali and Abdullah ibn Abbas are the only ones who are quoted as saying so, specially since those are in forefront in the hadith that defended the legitimacy of Mut'ah.

They then conclude that it is logical to assume that the rest of the companions heard right and someone later on fabricated the Kahybar and Mut'ah hadith, and attributed it to those two who where the strongest defenders of Mut'ah, in order to strengthen their own arguments.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Sahih Muslim 8:3266, 8:3263, 8:3264 8:3265, 8:3267, 21:4763, 21:4764
  2. ^ a b Sahih Bukhari 7:67:432, 7:62:50, 5:59:527 , 9:86:91
  3. ^ ummah.net, islamonline.com, sunnah.org, yarehman.com, inter-islam.org, fatwa-online.com
  4. ^ a b site, offline as of 2006-09-29 Google Cache
  5. ^ Zad al-Ma'ad on page 183 (ref)
  6. ^ Zad al-Ma'ad Volume 1 page 442
  7. ^ Fath al-Bari Volume 9 p. 73
  8. ^ Mirqat Sharh Mishkat al-masabih Volume 6 p. 20 Dhikr Mut'ah
  9. ^ Tahdhib al-Tahdhib
  10. ^ ref

[edit] See also