Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 1502
sahih

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

I took `Abdullah bin Abu Talha to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to perform Tahnik for him. (Tahnik was a custom among the Muslims that whenever a child was born they used to take it to the Prophet (ﷺ) who would chew a piece of date and put a part of its juice in the child's mouth). I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) and he had an instrument for branding in his hands and was branding the camels of Zakat.

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَمْرٍو الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ غَدَوْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ لِيُحَنِّكَهُ، فَوَافَيْتُهُ فِي يَدِهِ الْمِيسَمُ يَسِمُ إِبِلَ الصَّدَقَةِ‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 24, Hadith 102
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 2, Book 24, Hadith 578 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
During the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, the Muslims would seek mercy, goodness, and blessings from the Prophet ﷺ. In this hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that one morning he took ‘Abdullah ibn Aboo Talhah al-Ansaaree (may Allah be pleased with them) who was a newborn infant at the time to the Prophet ﷺ to give him Tahneek, which happens by chewing a piece of date then put a part of its juice in the child's mouth and rub their palates with dates so that the first thing the newborn infant tastes is sweetness. The newborn infant was the half-brother of Anas ibn Maalik from his mother side who was married to Aboo Talhah (may Allah be pleased with them). The Muslims used to bring their newborn infants to Allah's Messenger ﷺ to rub their palates with the dates he chewed, seeking Allah’s blessings through his salvia, supplications and the touch of his blessed hand. When Anas arrived, he saw the Prophet ﷺ carrying in his hand an iron instrument used to brand animals, and he was branding the camels of zakat. This branding was on the body of camels and not the face because it is forbidden as reported in other reports. The reason they were branded so they be distinguished from other camels and people learn they are from the camels of zakat and would not buy them again – since he ﷺ ordered people not to buy back anything they have given in charity as it will be considered then as if they took back their charity. One of the benefits of this hadeeth is learning the permissibility of tahneek for newborn infants, and that it is recommended to be conducted by a pious and righteous believer so he would ask Allah to bless him. It highlights that the ruler should look after the property of zakat and manage them directly. It shows that it is permissible to brand animals, and it is allowed to put the animal in pain that it can take so long as it is necessary to bring about benefit and goodness..
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