Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 2991
sahih

Narrated Anas:

The Prophet (ﷺ) reached Khaibar in the morning, while the people were coming out carrying their spades over their shoulders. When they saw him they said, "This is Muhammad and his army! Muhammad and his army!" So, they took refuge in the fort. The Prophet (ﷺ) raised both his hands and said, "Allahu Akbar, Khaibar is ruined, for when we approach a nation (i.e. enemy to fight) then miserable is the morning of the warned ones." Then we found some donkeys which we (killed and) cooked: The announcer of the Prophet (ﷺ) announced: "Allah and His Messenger forbid you to eat donkey's meat." So, all the pots including their contents were turned upside down.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ صَبَّحَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَيْبَرَ وَقَدْ خَرَجُوا بِالْمَسَاحِي عَلَى أَعْنَاقِهِمْ، فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ قَالُوا هَذَا مُحَمَّدٌ وَالْخَمِيسُ، مُحَمَّدٌ وَالْخَمِيسُ‏.‏ فَلَجَئُوا إِلَى الْحِصْنِ، فَرَفَعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَيْهِ وَقَالَ ‏

‏ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، خَرِبَتْ خَيْبَرُ، إِنَّا إِذَا نَزَلْنَا بِسَاحَةِ قَوْمٍ فَسَاءَ صَبَاحُ الْمُنْذَرِينَ ‏

‏‏.‏ وَأَصَبْنَا حُمُرًا فَطَبَخْنَاهَا، فَنَادَى مُنَادِي النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يَنْهَيَانِكُمْ عَنْ لُحُومِ الْحُمُرِ، فَأُكْفِئَتِ الْقُدُورُ بِمَا فِيهَا‏.‏ تَابَعَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ رَفَعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَيْهِ‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 56, Hadith 200
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 4, Book 52, Hadith 234 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The conquest of Khaybar took place in 7 A.H. between Muslims and Jews. Khayber was a village inhabited by Jews and located (153 km) away from Al-Madeenah to the north on the route to Damascus. The Jews gathered therein, so the Prophet ﷺ wanted to secure Al-Madeenah from their evil. In this hadeeth, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophetﷺ reached Khaybar in the morning, while its people were coming out carrying their spades (and ploughs) over their shoulders, on the way to their farms. When they saw the Prophet ﷺ, they said, "This is Muhammad and his army! Muhammad and his army!" The Arabic word used in the hadeeth isKhamees, meaning army, which consists of five divisions: front, rear, left, right, and center. So, they took refuge in the fort. The Prophetﷺraised both his hands and said, "Allahu Akbar, Khaybar is ruined, for when we approach a nation (i.e., enemy to fight) then miserable is the morning of the warned ones,” the Prophet ﷺ repeated it thrice, being upbeat and optimistic about conquering Khaybar, seeing the spades and ploughs. During this battle, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) seized some domestic donkeys, which were used by farmers for cultivation and as riding mounts. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) slaughtered these donkeys and cooked their meat without the knowledge and permission of the Prophet ﷺ. When he ﷺ knew of it, the announcer of the Prophetﷺ announced: "Allah, Exalted is He, and His Messenger ﷺ forbid you from eating donkey's meat." Immediately, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) complied and refrained from eating such meat; all the pots including their contents were turned upside down, in compliance with the Prophet’s command. It is deduced from the hadeeth that it is prohibited to eat the meat of domestic donkeys. It is also inferred therefrom that it is allowable to recite Takbeer (i.e., saying ‘Allaahu Akbar,’ Allah is the Greatest) when Muslims are blessed with victory and conquest. The hadeeth highlights the Companions’ immediate compliance with the Prophet’s commands and prohibitions..
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