Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not declare the monitor lizard to be unlawful; he (peace and blessings be upon him) merely disliked it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that his maternal aunt, Sayyida Umm Hufaid (may Allah be pleased with her), sent clarified butter, lizard, and cheese as a gift to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ate the clarified butter and also ate some of the cheese, but, feeling dislike and aversion, did not eat the meat of the lizard. However, the meat of the lizard was eaten on the dining mat of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). If this animal had been forbidden, it would not have been eaten at the dining mat of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Abu Bishr says: I asked Sa'id bin Jubair, "If this animal had been forbidden, it would not have been eaten at the dining mat of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)—who said this statement?" He replied: "Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said this."

It is narrated from Yazid bin Asam, he says: A man invited us, and when the dining mat was laid out, thirteen lizards were placed on it as a dish. It was the time of Isha. Some ate from it and some did not. When morning came, we went to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), and I asked him about this matter. Those sitting near him talked a lot, until some said that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I neither eat it nor declare it unlawful." Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "You have not spoken well. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent as one who declares things lawful or unlawful." Then he said: "The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was with Sayyida Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her), and with him were Sayyiduna Fadl bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him), and a woman as well. A dining mat was brought, on which there was bread and lizard meat. When the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was about to eat this food, Sayyida Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her) said to him: 'O Messenger of Allah! This is lizard meat.' So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) withdrew his hand and said: 'I do not eat this type of meat, but you may eat.' Sayyiduna Fadl bin Abbas, Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with them both), and that woman ate this food, but Sayyida Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her) refused to eat, saying: 'I do not eat the food which the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has refused to eat.'"

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that a man asked the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about the meat of the lizard while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting on the pulpit. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I neither eat it nor do I forbid eating it. Also, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever eats from this tree, meaning garlic, should by no means come to the mosque.

Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the meat of a lizard was brought to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he neither ate it nor declared it unlawful.

Sayyiduna Thabit bin Yazid bin Wada’ah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that we hunted dabb lizards while we were on an expedition with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The people cooked and roasted them. Thabit says: I also hunted a dabb lizard and, after roasting it, brought it to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and placed it before him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) took a stick and began to turn over or count the dabb lizard’s fingers with it, and then said: A community from the Children of Israel was transformed into animals on the earth, but I do not know which animal it was. I said: O Messenger of Allah! The people have started eating it after roasting it. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) neither ate from it nor forbade eating it.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that seven lizards were brought to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and dates and ghee were also placed on them. But he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: You eat, I do not like them.

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man said: O Messenger of Allah! We live in a land where there are lizards; what do you command us regarding them? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It has been mentioned to me that a community from the Children of Israel was transformed (into another form), then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) neither commanded to eat it nor forbade eating it. Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id says that after this, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Indeed, Allah gives benefit to many people through it; most of the food of shepherds is this lizard. If I had it, I would eat it. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) disliked it, he did not declare it unlawful.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, that lizards were presented to the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Turn it over on its back. So it was turned over on its back. Then he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Turn it over on its belly. So it was turned over on its belly. Then he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: A group from the Children of Israel went astray, upon whom Allah Almighty became angry; if there is any, then it is this, if there is any, then it is this, if there is any, then it is this.

(Second chain) The Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: Two generations from the Children of Israel went astray, so I fear that they are these very lizards.