SECTION ON PURITY · 73 – THE RULING REGARDING TOUCHING RAW MEAT
Abu Sa’id (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ encountered a young man shearing sheep. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him, “Go away, I will show you how it is done.” He then inserted his hand between the meat and skin up to his armpit, and afterwards performed the congregational prayer without renewing his ablution. [151]
Abu Dawud said: In Amr’s narration, this sentence was added: "(He did not touch the water)." Amr said: It was narrated to me through the wording of Hilaal ibn Mamnun ar-Ramli.
Abu Dawud said: This hadith was narrated by Abdulwaahid ibn Ziyad and Abu Muawiyah from Hilaal, who narrated it from Ata, who narrated it as a mursal (unconnected) hadith from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, without mentioning Abu Sa’id.
EXPLANATION:
The ablution mentioned in this hadith refers to washing the hands. The moisture in uncooked meat is not impure. Also, the blood remaining within the meat is not impure. However, the blood that flows from the animal's throat upon slaughter is impure. Although the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was extremely attentive to cleanliness, he stood for prayer without washing his hands after touching the sheep’s meat, in order to demonstrate that the meat is not impure.