Imaam Ahmad narrates in his Musnad upon the authority of al-Miqdaam ibn Ma’dee Karib al-Kindee that he said: The Messenger of Allaah (:pbuh:) said:

“No doubt, I have certainly been given the Book and what is similar to it. No doubt, I have certainly been given the Qur’aan and what is similar to it. Haven’t you considered the example of the gluttonous man who reclines upon his furnishings saying: Restrict yourselves to the Qur’aan. So whatever you find in it (the Qur’aan) that is permissible should be considered permissible; and whatever you find in it that is prohibited should be considered prohibited. Indeed, you are forbidden from the meat of the domesticated donkey, predatory animals with fangs, and the items which have been lost by non-Muslim’s who legally reside or travel within the lands of Islaam unless they have been left intentionally and are of no value to them. And when a man visits a people, it is incumbent upon them to entertain him. If they fail to do so, then he has the right to demand something similar to the amount that would have been used to entertain him.”

This prophetic narration is authentic. It has also been narrated by Abu Daawood, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah, ad-Daarimee, at-Tabaraanee (in his Mu’jam) al-Kabeer, and al-Bayhaaqee in Dalaa’ilun-Nabuwwah as well as other than this from the works of those who have documented and compiled the various collections of prophetic narrations.

At-Tirmidhee narrates as well as Imaam Ahmad, upon the authority of Aboo Raafi’ who said that the Prophet (:pbuh:) said:

“Indeed, I should not find any of you reclining upon his furnishings when something from the affairs which I have been commanded to convey reaches you. So it should not be said: I don’t know; or we only follow what we find in the Book of Allaah.”

This has also been narrated by Imaam Ahmad from Aboo Raafi’.

Explanation of the Hadeeth

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