Abu Hurairah said “When Allah, the Exalted, granted the conquest of Makkah to his Apostle, the Prophet(ﷺ) stood among them(the people) and praised Allaah and extolled Him. He then said, Verily Allaah stopped the Elephant from Makkah, and gave His Apostle and the believers sway upon it and it has been made lawful for me only for one hour on one day then it will remain sacred till the Day of Resurrection. Its trees are not to be cut, its game is not to be molested and the things dropped there are to be picked up only by one who publicly announces it. ‘Abbas or Al ‘Abbas suggested “Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) except the rush(idhkir) for it is useful for our graves and our houses. The Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) said “Except the rush.” Abu Dawud said “Ibn Al Musaffa added on the authority of Al Walid Abu Shah a man from the people of the Yemen stood and said “Give me in writing, Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ)”. The Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) said “Give in writing to Abu Shah. I said to Al Awza’i “What does the statement mean? Give Abu Shah in writing?” He said “This was an address which he heard from the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ).”
The Rites of Hajj (Kitab Al-Manasik Wa'l-Hajj)
Sunan Abi Dawud 2017 - Commentary by Classical Scholars
Sacred Status of Makkah
This hadith establishes the permanent sanctity of Makkah, which Allah protected from Abraha's army with elephants. The Prophet ﷺ affirmed that Makkah remains inviolable until the Day of Judgment, with its trees protected, game preserved, and lost property only retrievable through public announcement.
The Exception of Idhkhir
When Al-Abbas requested an exception for idhkhir (aromatic rush grass), the Prophet ﷺ permitted it due to its legitimate benefits for graves and households. Scholars explain this shows that while general prohibitions stand, specific exceptions can be made for clear human needs that don't violate the sanctuary's sanctity.
The Request for Written Documentation
Abu Shah's request for written documentation demonstrates the Companions' meticulous preservation of Prophetic teachings. Scholars note this reflects the early Islamic emphasis on accurately transmitting religious knowledge, whether orally or in written form.