Question

Is it Sunnah to eat rabbits?

Answer

Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has recorded a narration which suggests that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) consumed rabbit meat.

1) Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says:

“We chased a rabbit at ‘Mar az Zahran. The people ran after it but got tired. I got to it, took it and brought it to Abu Talhah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) who slaughtered it and sent its haunch or thighs to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). [Shu’bah rahimahullah, one of the narrators said, ‘There is no doubt that it was its thighs”] Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) accepted it. I asked, ‘Did he eat some of it?’ He replied, ‘He ate some of it.’ Then he later said, ‘He accepted it.’”

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 2572. Also see: Hadith: 5489, Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1953 and Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5535)

2) Sayyiduna ‘Ammar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “We were once with Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) when we settled down at a certain place. A Bedouin gifted a rabbit to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and we ate it”

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 24760. Declared reliable by ‘Allamah ‘Ayni rahimahullah, ‘Umdatul Qari, Hadith: 5535)

‘Allamah Ibn Qayyim (rahimahullah) when enlisting the meats that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) consumed, also mentions rabbit meat.

(Zadul Ma’ad, vol. 1, pg. 142. Also see Subulul Huda War Rashad, vol. 7, pg. 295/296)

Refer to ‘Umdatul Qari, Hadith: 2572 and 5535 for further Hadiths on this topic.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar