A man, on hearing the Prophet’s words, came forward with a sandal-strap—or two—and said, “This is something I had taken.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied,

“One sandal-strap—or two—of fire!”

The Story of the Poisoned Sheep and the Sign that Appeared on That Occasion

Al-Bukhārī (1) states: It was transmitted by ʿUrwah from ʿĀʾishah, from the Prophet ﷺ.

He then reports: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Yūsuf narrated to us; al-Layth narrated to us; Sʿaīd told me, from Abū Hurayrah, who said: “When Khaybar was conquered a sheep laced with poison was presented to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” Al-Bukhārī records it here in this concise form.

Imām Aḥmad (2) said: Ḥajjāj narrated to us; al-Layth narrated to us, from Saʿīd ibn Abī Saʿīd, from Abū Hurayrah, who said:

“When Khaybar was conquered, a sheep containing poison was gifted to the Prophet ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Gather for me those Jews who are here.’ They were gathered, and he asked them, ‘I am going to question you about something; will you answer truthfully?’ They replied, ‘Yes, Abū al-Qāsim.’

“He asked, ‘Who is your father?’ They said, ‘Our father is so-and-so.’ He said, ‘You have lied; your father is such-and-such.’ They answered, ‘You have spoken the truth and done well.’

“He then said, ‘Will you tell me the truth if I ask you about something else?’ They replied, ‘Yes, Abū al-Qāsim, and if we lie you will know, just as you have known regarding our father.’

“He asked, ‘Who are the people of the Fire?’ They said, ‘We shall dwell there for only a short while, then you will succeed us in it.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘By Allah, we shall never succeed you in it.’

“He asked them again, ‘Will you speak the truth if I question you?’ They said, ‘Yes, Abū al-Qāsim.’ He said, ‘Did you put poison in this sheep?’ They replied, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘What prompted you to do so?’ They said, ‘We wanted, if you were a liar, to rid the people of you; and if you were a Prophet, the poison would not harm you.’

Al-Bukhārī (3) also recorded this report in the Book of Jizyah through ʿAbd Allāh ibn Yūsuf, and in the Book of Maghāzī through Qutaybah—both from al-Layth with the same chain.

Al-Bayhaqī (4) said: Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Ḥāfiẓ informed us; Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Aṣamm informed us; Saʿīd ibn Sulaymān narrated to us; ʿAbbād ibn al-ʿAwwām narrated to us, from Sufyān ibn Ḥusayn, from al-Zuhrī, from Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib and Abū Salamah ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, from Abū Hurayrah: A Jewish woman presented the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with a poisoned sheep, whereupon he said to his Companions, “Hold back, for it…"