Is the Hadith prohibiting frog authentic?

The Hadith in Abi Dawood prohibiting frog is Hasan according to Imam al-Nawawi.

عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ: أَنَّ طَبِيبًا سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ ضِفْدَعٍ يَجْعَلُهَا فِي دَوَاءٍ، فَنَهَاهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ قَتْلِهَا

Abd al-Rahman ibn Uthman (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) narrated that a physician asked the Prophet ﷺ about putting frogs in medicine. He ﷺ forbade him from killing them. (Abu Dawood, 3871).

There are a number of narrations for this Hadith with slightly variant wording. This particular narration is in Sunan Abi Dawood. It is Hasan according to Imam al-Nawawi.

وَأَمَّا حَدِيثُ النَّهْيِ عَنْ قَتْلِ الضِّفْدَعِ فَرَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد بِإِسْنَادٍ حَسَنٍ وَالنَّسَائِيِّ بِإِسْنَادٍ صَحِيحٍ مِنْ رِوَايَةِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بن عثمان بن عبيد الله التميمي الصحابي وهو ابن أخى طلحة بن عبيد الله. (المجموع شرح المهذب)

As for the Hadith regarding the prohibition on killing frogs, it was narrated by (Imam) Abi Dawood with a Hasan chain, and by (Imam) al-Nasai with a Sahih chain. It is the narration of Abd al-Rahman bin Uthmaan bin Ubaydillah al-Tamimi the Sahabi. He is the nephew of Talhah bin Ubaydillah. (al-Majmoo’ Sharh al-Muhadhab, Imam al-Nawawi).

It is important for Muslims to learn the basics of Hadith science (Uloom al-Hadith). Since we regularly encounter Hadith and many Muslims forward them to others, it is essential to have some understanding regarding Hadith authenticity when engaging with Hadith.

And Allah Most High Knows best.

– Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (09.11.2021)

See also:

Is frog Halal?

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