‘Anbar (Ambergris; Whale)

We mentioned the hadith that is narrated in the Two Sahihs about Abu ‘Ubaydah and the Muslim army finding a huge fish, or whale, and that they ate from it for a half a month. They In addition took some of its meat with them to Al Madinah and gave the Prophet some of it. This Hadith indicates that it is allowed for Muslims to eat whatever comes from the sea even when it is dead.

Some people who [disagree with what we stated above] said that the whale was thrown on the shore while still alive and that when the water receded it died. Therefore, they say, the whale died because of the lack of water not naturally.

This opinion is incorrect, because the companions found the whale dead at the seashore. They did not see it alive and then the water receded causing its death as claimed. Further, if the whale were still alive, the sea would not have thrown it on the shore, since the sea usually throws dead animals and dead fish on the shore.

Furthermore, even if what they claimed had happened to the whale, it will not affect the ruling of permissibility [to eat dead marine creatures]. The Prophet disallowed eating game if one finds it dead in the water because there is a doubt if it had died from drowing and not from his weapon. So, if what the opponents say were true, then the fact that there is a doubt concerning how the whale died would disallow eating it [i.e if their suggestion that the whale died because of lack of air and that dead marine creatures are disallowed dead were both true].

As for Al ‘Anbar, amber, which is a type of Talb (perfume), it is one of the best types of perfume after Musk. Some people mistakenly preferred ‘Anbar to Misk. However, the Prophet described Musk.

“It is the best Tajb (perfume).”

Soon afterwards, we will mention the benefits and characteristics of Musk, which is the Tajb of Paradise. In addition, the seats in Paradise that belong to the truthful believers are made of A Lusk not ‘Anbar.

Those who thought that ‘Anbar is better than musk were deceived by the fact that the ‘Anbar does not spoil, just like gold. This fact alone does not indicate that the ‘Anbar is better than A/lusk.

There are several types of ‘Anbar: white, gray, red, yellow, green, blue, black and multicolored. The best type of the ‘Anbar is gray, then the blue and then the yellow in color, while the black ‘Anbar is the worst type.

People have conflicting opinions regarding the origin of ‘Anbar, where some people said that it is a plant that grows on the seabed and which sea reptiles eat and then discard to later be thrown on the seashore. Some people say that ‘Anbar is the waste of sea creatures that looks like cow manure. Some people even said that it is a type of foam that the sea discards on the shore. The author of the ‘Qanoon’ discounted the last two opinions but said that the amber might originate from an undersea spring.

‘Anbar is hot and dry strengthens the heart, the mind and the senses. It In addition strengthens the body and helps relieve facial paralysis, hemiplegia (paralysis), phlegmy ailments, stomach and flatulence. ‘Anbar In addition helps open various clogs if it is used as an ointment or as a drink. When it is inhaled, ‘Anbar will relieve cold symptoms, headaches and migraines.