Nafi’ rahimahullah said about Ibn ‘Umar radiallahu anhumma:
وكان لا يدمن اللحم شهرا إلا مسافرا أو في رمضان ، قال وكان يمكث الشهر لا يذوق فيه مزعة لحم
“He used to not be addicted to meat in any month except when travelling or in Ramadan. He used to stay a month with tasting a flesh of meat [i.e. outside Ramadan or travelling]
[Reported by Kitab az-Zuhd of Imam Ahmad no. 1078 with a Saheeh chain]
Another version he says:
قال : إذا صام أو سافر ، فإنه كان أكثر طعامه
“If he fasted or traveled, it was most of his food [i.e. meat]
[Reported by Abu Dawood in Kitab az-Zuhd with a Hasan chain]
Imam Ibn Qayyim wrote:
وَقَالَ نافع: كَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِذَا كَانَ رَمَضَانُ لَمْ يَفُتْهُ اللَّحْمُ، وَإِذَا سَافَرَ لَمْ يَفُتْهُ اللَّحْمُ.
“Nafi’ said: If it was Ramadan, Ibn Umar radiallahu anhu would not miss meat and if he traveled, he would not miss meat [i.e. he would always eat it]”
[Kitab at-Tibb pg. 282]
Muslims tend to eat a lot of meat both in and outside of Ramadan. Our meat-stuffed Samosas are clear indication of that, let alone all the curries, chickens, and beef entrees. But it is not such a bad thing in Ramadan considering a Companion of the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam used to eat a lot of meat during Ramadan. So if we are going to continue this practice we should at least intend to be like this great Companion radiallah anhu. And perhaps not feel so guilty.
After all Allah says:
أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ
They are those whom Allah had guided. So follow their guidance
[6:90]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
—
Imam Ibn Qayyim mentioned the above narration on meat at the beginning of his discussion of meat. And the word (لحم) can include red meat and chicken, fish etc.
After mentioned the narration, Imam Ibn Qayyim rahimahullah wrote:
واللحم أجناس يختلف باختلاف أصوله وطبائعه ، فنذكر حكم كل جنس وطبعه ومنفعته ومضرته .
“And meat has types which differs according to the difference in its origin and nature. So we will mention each type, its nature, its benefits, and harms”
[Tib an-Nabawi]
So we cannot say that the narration of Ibn Umar radiallahu anhu does only means red meat or that it means other meats not including red meat. It is general and Ibn Umar raidallahu anahu used to increase in its consumption during Ramadan.
