Is Donkey Meat Halal?

Question: Is the meat of wild donkeys and domestic donkeys halal?

Praise be to Allah

Summary:

• The meat of wild donkeys (onagers) is halal.
• The meat of domesticated donkeys is haram.

Detailed Answer

Wild donkey is Halal

It is allowed to eat the meat of wild donkeys, also known as onagers. This comes from

Where Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) hunted a wild donkey and brought some of its meat to the Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ). The Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) ate some of the meat and told his Companions, “It is halal, eat it.”

Domesticated donkeys is Haram

No, it’s not allowed to eat the meat of domesticated donkeys. At first, it was allowed, but then the Prophet Muhammad (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) said it was haram (forbidden) on the day of Khaybar.

Jabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) forbade eating the meat of domesticated donkeys but allowed eating horse meat.

Sahih al-Bukhari 5520

Another Companion, Abu Tha’labah (may Allah be pleased with him), also reported that the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) forbade the meat of domesticated donkeys.

Sahih al-Bukhari 5527

And Allah Knows Best