Eating the hoopoe

Q: Is it permissible to eat from the meat of the hoopoe? Please give us a detailed answer as many laymen and teachers here disagree on this matter.Support your answer with proofs, please.

A: Some narrations prohibit the killing of the hoopoe and so scholars hold that eating its meat is Haram (prohibited) as well. An example of such narrations is the Hadith which is reported on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) who said that: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade the killing of four creatures: the ant, the bee, the hoopoe and the sparrow-hawk. (Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, (Part No. 22; Page No. 294) and Ibn Majah) Al-Hafizh ibn Hajar commented on the foregoing Hadith: "Its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih 'authentic' Hadith." Moreover, Al-Bayhaqy said concerning the same: "It is the strongest narration in this regard." May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.