This Hadith is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 34 Sales and Trade / كتاب البيوع / Chapter 112: The sale of dead animals and idols / باب بَيْعِ الْمَيْتَةِ وَالأَصْنَامِ ) as Hadith 497.
Narrated by Jabir bin `Abdullah:
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), in the year of the Conquest of Mecca, saying, "Allah and His Apostle made illegal the trade of alcohol, dead animals, pigs and idols." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What about the fat of dead animals, for it was used for greasing the boats and the hides; and people use it for lights?" He said, "No, it is illegal." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) further said, "May Allah curse the Jews, for Allah made the fat (of animals) illegal for them, yet they melted the fat and sold it and ate its price."
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ عَامَ الْفَتْحِ، وَهُوَ بِمَكَّةَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ حَرَّمَ بَيْعَ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْتَةِ وَالْخِنْزِيرِ وَالأَصْنَامِ ". فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَرَأَيْتَ شُحُومَ الْمَيْتَةِ فَإِنَّهَا يُطْلَى بِهَا السُّفُنُ، وَيُدْهَنُ بِهَا الْجُلُودُ، وَيَسْتَصْبِحُ بِهَا النَّاسُ. فَقَالَ " لاَ، هُوَ حَرَامٌ ". ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ " قَاتَلَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَّا حَرَّمَ شُحُومَهَا جَمَلُوهُ ثُمَّ بَاعُوهُ فَأَكَلُوا ثَمَنَهُ ". قَالَ أَبُو عَاصِمٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ، كَتَبَ إِلَىَّ عَطَاءٌ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرًا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
The hadith above can be understood better with the following explanation:
Trade of Dead Animals: The sale of dead animals (carrion) is prohibited because consuming carrion is haram (forbidden) in Islam. This prohibition is based on the principle that Muslims should avoid benefiting from anything that is harmful or impure.
Trade of Idols: The sale of idols is prohibited because idol worship (shirk) is considered one of the gravest sins in Islam. Engaging in the trade of idols would indirectly support and promote practices that are antithetical to Islamic monotheism (Tawhid).
General Prohibition of Unlawful Items: The hadiths collectively prohibit not only the sale of dead animals and idols but also alcohol and pigs. These items are all considered impure or harmful, and their trade is forbidden to prevent Muslims from engaging in or benefiting from unlawful activities.
The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) thus clearly prohibit the trade of dead animals, idols, alcohol, and pigs. These prohibitions are aimed at maintaining the spiritual and physical purity of the Muslim community and ensuring that economic activities align with Islamic values and ethics.
Muslims should therefore be mindful of trading items mentioned in the above quoted Hadith for such trading clearly clashes with Islamic teachings and values.
Lard is made from 100 percent animal fat (usually pork) that has been separated from the meat. Most lard is made through a process called rendering, whereby the fatty parts of the pig (such as the belly, butt, and shoulder) are cooked slowly until the fat is melted.
Be careful for HS code 1501, which indicative of PIG FAT (INCLUDING LARD) AND POULTRY FAT. Likewise beware of Code E476 is emulsifier and stabilizer - salt or esters of fatty acids. It is halal if it is 100% from plant fats and haram if it is from pork fats.
Swine by-products are also important parts of products such as water filters, insulation, rubber, antifreeze, certain plastics, floor waxes, crayons, chalk, adhesives and fertilizer (USDA, 2016). Lard is fat from pig abdomens and is used in shaving creams, soaps, make-up, baked goods and other foods.
Some toothpastes use glycerin which is derived from animal fats, mainly pork. This is used to give the toothpaste its texture. Some commercial toothpastes also contain harmful ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate, flavorings, artificial sweeteners, dyes and colorings, antimicrobials and thickening agents.
In view of the information above, we should also be mindful of buying eating items which include pig fats. This can be done by reading the ingredients of any eatable, specially chocolates etc.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more Hadiths on the General Subjects.
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
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