Abu Qatadah al-Ansari رضي الله عنه — The Hunt at Hudaybiyyah
Abu Qatadah al-Ansari رضي الله عنه — The Hunt at Hudaybiyyah
Abu Qatadah al-Ansari رضي الله عنه — The Hunt at Hudaybiyyah
Midnight on the road towards Makkah.
A lone rider was moving through the dark — now driving his horse into a gallop, now letting it drop back to an ordinary, slower pace, then galloping again.
He was hunting through the night for the camp of the Prophet ﷺ, carrying hunted meat, the greetings of companions who feared being left behind, and a question only the Messenger of Allah ﷺ could settle.
His name was Abu Qatadah al-Ansari رضي الله عنه. His son Abdullah later told his story more than once — each telling keeping details the other does not.
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It was the year of Al-Hudaibiya. The companions had entered Ihram; Abu Qatadah had not: "We proceeded with the Prophet (ﷺ) in the year of Al-Hudaibiya and his companions assumed Ihram but I did not." Sahih al-Bukhari 1822
Then word came of an enemy: "We were informed that some enemies were at Ghaiqa and so we went on towards them." Sahih al-Bukhari 1822 In his son's telling: "At that time the Prophet (ﷺ) was informed that an enemy wanted to attack him, so the Prophet (ﷺ) proceeded onwards." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821
Then an onager appeared — a wild donkey, out in the open.
In Abu Qatadah's own telling, his companions saw it first: "My companions saw an onager and some of them started laughing among themselves." Sahih al-Bukhari 1822 In his son's telling: "While my father was among his companions, some of them laughed among themselves." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821
The laughter pointed his eyes to it. The men in Ihram could not hunt — but he could.
"I looked and saw it. I chased it with my horse and stabbed and caught it." Sahih al-Bukhari 1822 In his father's words: "I looked up and saw an onager. I attacked, stabbed and caught it." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821
Then he called on his companions for help. They refused.
"I wanted some help from my companions but they refused." Sahih al-Bukhari 1822 And: "I then sought my companions' help but they refused to help me." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821
They would not lay a hand on the hunt — where there was doubt, their hands stayed back. So he finished alone: "(I slaughtered it all alone)." Sahih al-Bukhari 1822
Afterwards, they ate together: "(Later) we all ate its meat." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821
But the meal did not end the matter — the hunt itself had to be placed before the Prophet ﷺ, who had moved onwards. So Abu Qatadah rode out into the night.
"We were afraid that we might be left behind (separated) from the Prophet (ﷺ) so I went in search of the Prophet (ﷺ) and made my horse to run at a galloping speed at times and let it go slow at an ordinary speed at other times till I met a man from the tribe of Bani Ghifar at midnight." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821
He asked the man: "Where did you leave the Prophet (ﷺ) ?" Sahih al-Bukhari 1821 The man replied: "I left him at Ta'hun and he had the intention of having the midday rest at As-Suqya." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821
He followed the trace — and reached him. First, he delivered what his companions had sent: "O Allah's Messenger! Your people (companions) send you their compliments, and (ask for) Allah's Blessings upon you. They are afraid lest they may be left behind; so please wait for them." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821
In the fuller telling, the message names their real fear: "I have been sent by my companions who send you their greetings and compliments and ask for Allah's Mercy and Blessings upon you. They were afraid lest the enemy might intervene between you and them; so please wait for them." Sahih al-Bukhari 1822 And the Prophet ﷺ waited for them: "So he did." Sahih al-Bukhari 1822
Then Abu Qatadah spoke about himself, hiding nothing:
"O Allah's Messenger! I hunted an onager and some of its meat is with me." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821
> «أَصَبْتُ حِمَارَ وَحْشٍ، وَعِنْدِي مِنْهُ فَاضِلَةٌ»
In the other telling: "O Allah's Messenger! We have hunted an onager and have some of it (i.e. its meat) left over." Sahih al-Bukhari 1822
The answer settled everything. In his son's telling: "The Prophet (ﷺ) told the people to eat it though all of them were in the state of Ihram." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821 And in Abu Qatadah's own telling: "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) told his companions to eat the meat although all of them were in a state of Ihram." Sahih al-Bukhari 1822
The worry was over — because the question had been carried through the dark to the one whose word settles questions.
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🌿 Stop and Think About This Scene
Look at the companions first. Asked to help, they refused — not from laziness, but because they were in Ihram and would not touch what might not be lawful for them.
Then look at Abu Qatadah. He did not hide the hunt or say nothing. He loaded the question onto his horse and rode through the night to stand before the Prophet ﷺ and say exactly what he had done. Between their caution and his honesty, the matter reached the Prophet ﷺ — and his word ended it.
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❤️ The Greatest Lesson for Our Lives Today
How do we usually handle a deed we are unsure about? We hide it, defend it loudly, or ask around until someone tells us what we wanted to hear.
Abu Qatadah did none of this. He reported himself: "O Allah's Messenger! I hunted an onager and some of its meat is with me." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821 His own act, from his own mouth — no softening, no excuses.
And before mentioning his own hunt, he delivered his companions' greetings and their fear. His brothers' errand came before his own question.
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📚 Important Lessons From This Hadith
1. Caution comes before participation
The companions refused to help with a hunt while they were in Ihram: "they refused to help me." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821 When you fear a thing may be wrong for you, hold back first.
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2. Report your own deed honestly
Abu Qatadah did not wait to be caught or questioned — he confessed his act in full. Honesty about our own actions marks a heart that wants truth more than comfort.
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3. Do not let separation grow
The companions sent their greetings and their plea: "They are afraid lest they may be left behind; so please wait for them." Sahih al-Bukhari 1821 And the Prophet ﷺ waited: "So he did." Sahih al-Bukhari 1822 Being cut off from him frightened them more than the enemy did.
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4. Skill, used in Allah's path, is a blessing
Abu Qatadah chased down an onager alone, then rode through the night, his horse running "at a galloping speed at times and let it go slow at an ordinary speed at other times" Sahih al-Bukhari 1821 — pacing his mount like a man who knew horses and darkness. Skill is beautiful when spent carrying a question of religion to its answer.
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5. The word of the Prophet ﷺ replaces doubt with certainty
The group had eaten, and then worried. The worry ended with the Prophet's ﷺ one instruction to eat. His answer was enough.
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🏠 How Can We Apply This Hadith in Our Daily Lives?
🤔 When you are unsure about something you have done — do not bury it. Take the question to knowledge, describing your deed exactly as it happened.
✋ When friends invite you into something doubtful — remember the companions' hands. They loved Abu Qatadah, but they would not help with the hunt. Love your friends — and keep your hands back from what you fear is wrong.
🌙 When the answer matters, do not wait for morning. Abu Qatadah rode at midnight; delay rarely makes a doubtful thing clearer.
🤝 When sent with someone's message — carry it faithfully, and first, as he delivered his companions' salam before his own hunt.
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🌹 The Most Beautiful Message of This Story
Somewhere on that dark road, a horse kept changing its pace — a gallop, then a walk, then a gallop again. On it rode a man who refused to leave two things unresolved: his brothers' fear, and his own uncertainty.
He reached the Prophet ﷺ. He delivered the greetings. He confessed the hunt. He heard the answer. And the Prophet ﷺ — with an enemy somewhere ahead — waited for the ones who feared being left behind.
> The left-behind were waited for.
The doubtful deed was spoken aloud.
And one clear answer turned a night of worry into peace.
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📖 Authentic Reference
Book: Sahih al-Bukhari
Narrator: Abdullah bin Abu Qatadah, from his father Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه
Chapter: If a non-Muhrim hunts (an animal) and gives it as a present to a Muhrim, (it is permissible for) the latter to eat it
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1821
Grade: Sahih
Book: Sahih al-Bukhari
Narrator: Abdullah bin Abu Qatadah, from his father Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه
Chapter: If the Muhrimun saw game and laughed and a non-Muhrim understood, they are allowed to eat the game
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1822
Grade: Sahih