❀ Important Issues Related to Hunting in the Light of Authentic Aḥādīth ❀
Compiled by: Muhammad Nadīm Zaheer Baloch
❖ Question ①
Are arrows, bullets, and sharp knives considered the same in ruling or different?
Answer:
Anything that is sharp-pointed takes the ruling of an arrow. Just as when shooting an arrow one must say Bismillāh, Allāhu Akbar, and if the animal or bird dies from it, it is ḥalāl, likewise the same applies to any sharp object such as a rifle bullet or a pointed knife.
Proofs:
- قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا أَنْهَرَ الدَّمَ وَذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فَكُلْ
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Whatever causes blood to flow, and Allah’s name has been mentioned upon it, then eat of it.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5498) - قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا أَنْهَرَ الدَّمَ وَذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ فَكُلْ إِلَّا بِسِنٍّ أَوْ ظُفُرٍ
Rāfiʿ ibn Khadīj (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whatever causes blood to flow, and Allah’s name has been mentioned upon it, then eat, except with teeth or nails.”
(Sunan al-Nasā’ī 4408)
❖ Question ②
If a bird or animal is struck with an arrow or bullet after saying Bismillāh, and it dies because of that strike, what is the ruling?
Answer:
That bird or animal is ḥalāl and may be eaten without any doubt.
Proof:
ʿAdī ibn Ḥātim (رضي الله عنه) said:
I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about hunting. He said:
إذا رَمَيتَ بسَهمِكَ فاذكُرِ اسمَ اللهِ، فإنْ وَجَدتَه قد قُتِلَ فكُلْ
“When you shoot your arrow, mention the name of Allah. If you find that it has died because of your arrow, then eat it.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1929, al-Tirmidhī 1469, al-Dāraqutnī 4799)
❖ Question ③
If a bird or animal is struck by an arrow or bullet but falls into water and dies, what is the ruling?
Answer:
It is prohibited to eat it.
Proof:
- قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنْ وَقَعَ فِي الْمَاءِ فَلَا تَأْكُلْ
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: If it falls into the water, do not eat it.”
(Sunan al-Nasā’ī 4404) - قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تَجِدَهُ قَدْ وَقَعَ فِي مَاءٍ، وَلَا تَدْرِي الْمَاءُ قَتَلَهُ أَوْ سَهْمُكَ
“If you find that it has fallen into water and you do not know whether the water killed it or your arrow, then do not eat it.”
(Sunan al-Nasā’ī 4403) - قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إنْ وجَدْتَهُ غَرِيقًا في الماءِ، فلا تَأْكُلْ
“If you find it drowned in water, do not eat it.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5484, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1929)
Reason: There is doubt whether the animal died due to the water or due to the strike of the arrow/bullet. Hence, eating it is prohibited.
❖ Question ④
What is the ruling on eating the meat of ḥalāl birds that consume filth?
Answer:
It is forbidden to eat such birds or animals.
Proof:
نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ الْجَلَّالَةِ
Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade eating the meat of animals or birds that consume filth.
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3787)
