Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade (people) to cat the flesh of sacrificed animals beyond three days. Abdullah b. Abu Bakr said, I made a mention of that to 'Amra, whereupon she said: He has told the truth, for I heard 'A'isha say: The poor among the people of the desert come (to the towns) on the occasion of Id al-Adha during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). Upon this Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Retain with you (the flesh) sufficing for three (days), and whatever is left out of that give in charity. After this. they (the Muslims) said: Allah's Messenger, the people make waterskins with the (hides) of their sacrificed animals and they melt fat out of them. Thereupon he said. What the then? They said: You forbade (us) to eat the flesh of sacrificial animals beyond threoq (days), whereupon he said: I forbade you for those (poor persons) who flocked (to the towns on this occasion for getting meat) but now when (this situation has improved) you may eat, preserve and give -in charity.
The Book of Sacrifices - Sahih Muslim 1971
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade (people) to eat the flesh of sacrificed animals beyond three days. Abdullah b. Abu Bakr said, I made a mention of that to 'Amra, whereupon she said: He has told the truth, for I heard 'A'isha say: The poor among the people of the desert come (to the towns) on the occasion of Id al-Adha during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). Upon this Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Retain with you (the flesh) sufficing for three (days), and whatever is left out of that give in charity. After this, they (the Muslims) said: Allah's Messenger, the people make waterskins with the (hides) of their sacrificed animals and they melt fat out of them. Thereupon he said: What then? They said: You forbade (us) to eat the flesh of sacrificial animals beyond three (days), whereupon he said: I forbade you for those (poor persons) who flocked (to the towns on this occasion for getting meat) but now when (this situation has improved) you may eat, preserve and give in charity.
Commentary on the Prohibition
The initial prohibition against preserving sacrificial meat beyond three days was a temporary ruling specific to a particular circumstance. During the early period of Islam, many poor Bedouins would travel to Medina during Eid al-Adha seeking sustenance. The Prophet (ﷺ) commanded Muslims to consume only what they needed for three days and distribute the remainder as charity to accommodate these needy visitors.
This ruling demonstrates the flexibility of Islamic law in addressing changing social conditions and the wisdom of the Prophet in legislating according to actual circumstances rather than imposing rigid, unchanging rules.
The Abrogation and Final Ruling
When the Companions later inquired about using the hides for waterskins and rendering the fat - practices that required preserving the sacrificial animals beyond three days - the Prophet (ﷺ) clarified that the original prohibition was temporary. Once the specific circumstance that necessitated the restriction (the influx of poor people seeking meat) had changed, the ruling was lifted.
The final ruling permits Muslims to eat, preserve, and give charity from sacrificial meat without time restrictions. This abrogation illustrates an important principle in Islamic jurisprudence: that some rulings may be specific to particular conditions and can change when those conditions change.
Legal Implications and Wisdom
This hadith teaches us about the gradual implementation of Islamic laws and the importance of understanding the reasons behind rulings. The temporary restriction served multiple purposes: ensuring distribution of meat to the poor, preventing waste, and teaching generosity during the festive period.
The permanent permission that followed reflects Islam's balanced approach - neither imposing unnecessary hardship nor encouraging wastefulness. Muslims are encouraged to be generous in charity while also being practical in their preservation and use of lawful provisions.