Compiled by Imam Abu Dawud as-Sijistani
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ، مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ التَّيْمِيِّ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، مَوْلَى أَبِي قَتَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ بِبَعْضِ طَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ تَخَلَّفَ مَعَ أَصْحَابٍ لَهُ مُحْرِمِينَ وَهُوَ غَيْرُ مُحْرِمٍ فَرَأَى حِمَارًا وَحْشِيًّا فَاسْتَوَى عَلَى فَرَسِهِ قَالَ فَسَأَلَ أَصْحَابَهُ أَنْ يُنَاوِلُوهُ سَوْطَهُ فَأَبَوْا فَسَأَلَهُمْ رُمْحَهُ فَأَبَوْا فَأَخَذَهُ ثُمَّ شَدَّ عَلَى الْحِمَارِ فَقَتَلَهُ فَأَكَلَ مِنْهُ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبَى بَعْضُهُمْ فَلَمَّا أَدْرَكُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَأَلُوهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ " إِنَّمَا هِيَ طُعْمَةٌ أَطْعَمَكُمُوهَا اللَّهُ تَعَالَى " .
Abu Qatadah said that he accompanied the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) and he stayed behind on the way to Makkah with some of his companions who were wearing ihram, although he was not. When he saw a wild ass he mounted his horse and asked them to hand him his whip, but they refused. He then asked them to hand him his lance. When they refused, he took it, chased the while ass and killed it. Some of the Companions of the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) ate it and some refused (to eat). When they met the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) they asked him about it. He said that was the food that Allaah provided you for eating.