The scholars differed over the meaning of his statement, “No, it is prohibited.” It was said that this refers to the sale, since that is the subject of the hadith and what it addresses: “Allah has forbidden the sale of carrion.” The Companions only mentioned its possible uses in order to justify the permissibility of selling it and to show that such benefits would not go to waste, and that it therefore ought to be sold. So he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “No, it”—that is, its sale—“is prohibited.”

This is the correct view: the pronoun in his statement, “It is prohibited,” refers to its sale, even in light of the uses mentioned by the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. This is because the discussion concerns its sale.

It was also said that “It is prohibited” means that making use of it in these ways is prohibited: ships may not be coated with it, skins may not be greased with it, and people may not use it for lamps. However, this view is weak.

The correct view is that ships may be coated with it, skins may be greased with it, and people may use it for lamps.

Question: Is anything exempted from carrion?

Answer: Exempted from carrion are those dead animals that are pure and lawful to eat; selling them is lawful because they are lawful. Allah, Most High, does not forbid the sale of something He has made lawful for His servants. An example is fish: if someone brings dead fish, it is lawful to sell them. Likewise, it is lawful to sell locusts even when dead. Thus, if a person finds dead locusts on the ground, takes possession of them, and then sells them, there is no harm in this, because their dead flesh is lawful to eat.

Question: What is the ruling on selling a stuffed fox?