Third: The other hadiths cited by al-Haythami in al-Majmaʿ (4/36–37), such as the hadith under discussion, contain no such instruction. Although they are not free of weakness, some of them strengthen others and may therefore be cited in support. They are further strengthened by the hadith of Abu Saʿid al-Khudri:

A Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, “I live in a low-lying area teeming with spiny-tailed lizards, and they are the staple food of my family.” He did not answer him. We said, “Ask him again,” so he asked him again, but he did not answer him—three times. Then, the third time, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, called out to him and said: “O Bedouin! Allah cursed—or became angry with—a tribe among the Children of Israel and transformed them into beasts that crawl upon the earth. I do not know; perhaps this is among them. Therefore, I do not eat it, but neither do I prohibit it.”

It was reported by Muslim (6/70) and al-Tahawi (4/279) through Abu ʿAqil Bashir ibn ʿUqbah, who said: Abu Nadrah narrated to us from him. Dawud ibn Abi Hind also narrated a similar report from Abu Nadrah, saying: “He neither commanded nor prohibited.” Abu Saʿid said: Later, ʿUmar said, “Indeed, Allah benefits more than one person through it, and it is the food of most of these herders. If I had it with me, I would eat it! The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, merely found it distasteful.”

It was also reported by Muslim—the wording is his—as well as Ibn Majah (3240) and Ahmad (3/5, 19, and 66). Bishr ibn Harb also narrated a shorter version from Abu Saʿid. It was reported by Ahmad (3/41 and 42).