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Sunan ad-Darimi — Hadith 2017

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيل أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو هُوَ ابْنُ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو، يَقُولُ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: "مَنْ قَتَلَ عُصْفُورًا بِغَيْرِ حَقِّهِ، سَأَلَهُ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ". قِيلَ: وَمَا حَقُّهُ ؟ قَالَ: "أَنْ تَذْبَحَهُ فَتَأْكُلَهُ".
Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever kills a sparrow unjustly, Allah Almighty will question him about it on the Day of Resurrection." It was asked: What is its right? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Its right is that you slaughter it and then eat it."
Hadith Reference سنن دارمي / من كتاب الاضاحي / 2017
Hadith Grading تحقیق (حسین سلیم أسد الدارانی): إسناده جيد، [مكتبه الشامله نمبر: 2021]
Hadith Takhrij اس روایت کی سند جید ہے۔ دیکھئے: [نسائي 4354] ، [مسند الحميدي 598]
Brief Explanation
(Commentary on Hadith 2016)

From this hadith, it is understood that killing even a small animal without purpose will be a cause of disgrace on the Day of Judgment; one will be questioned as to why one killed that animal unjustly.

In another narration of al-Nasa’i, it is mentioned that whoever kills a sparrow without benefit, it will cry out on the Day of Judgment: “O Lord! So-and-so killed me without benefit.”

From this, it is understood that such play is futile and disliked (makruh). However, if a sparrow is killed or hunted for the purpose of slaughtering and eating, then this is undoubtedly permissible.

And Allah knows best.