Permissibility of Killing an Uncontrollable Animal with an Arrow
When slaughtering becomes difficult for any reason, it is permissible to kill the animal with an arrow or spear, and it will be considered just like slaughtering.
Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله placed the following chapter:
باب: إذا ند بعير لقوم، فرماه بعضهم بسهم فقتله فأراد إصلاحهم فهو جائز...
“Chapter: If a camel of some people runs away, and one of them shoots it with an arrow and kills it, intending to do good for them, it is permissible.”
This is supported by the hadith of Rafiʿ ibn Khadij رضي الله عنه narrated from the Prophet ﷺ.
[Bukhari, before hadith no. 5544, Book of Slaughtering and Hunting]
Rafiʿ ibn Khadij رضي الله عنه narrated:
“We were with the Prophet ﷺ on a journey when a camel ran away. A man shot it with an arrow, and Allah stopped it. The Prophet ﷺ then said:
إن لها أوابد كأوابد الوحش فما عليكم منها فاصنعوا به هكذا
‘These camels sometimes run away like wild animals. So, whatever gets out of your control among them, deal with it like this.’”
[Bukhari 5544; Muslim 1968; Tirmidhi 1492; Abu Dawud 2821; Nasa’i 7/228; Ibn Majah 3183; Bayhaqi 9/246]
Imam al-Shawkani رحمه الله said:
This hadith proves the permissibility of shooting and eating an animal wounded in any part of the body, provided it is behaving like a wild animal.
[Nayl al-Awtār 5/221]
When slaughtering becomes difficult for any reason, it is permissible to kill the animal with an arrow or spear, and it will be considered just like slaughtering.
Bukhari’s Chapter Heading
Imam al-Bukhari رحمه الله placed the following chapter:
باب: إذا ند بعير لقوم، فرماه بعضهم بسهم فقتله فأراد إصلاحهم فهو جائز...
“Chapter: If a camel of some people runs away, and one of them shoots it with an arrow and kills it, intending to do good for them, it is permissible.”
This is supported by the hadith of Rafiʿ ibn Khadij رضي الله عنه narrated from the Prophet ﷺ.
[Bukhari, before hadith no. 5544, Book of Slaughtering and Hunting]
Hadith Evidence
Rafiʿ ibn Khadij رضي الله عنه narrated:
“We were with the Prophet ﷺ on a journey when a camel ran away. A man shot it with an arrow, and Allah stopped it. The Prophet ﷺ then said:
إن لها أوابد كأوابد الوحش فما عليكم منها فاصنعوا به هكذا
‘These camels sometimes run away like wild animals. So, whatever gets out of your control among them, deal with it like this.’”
[Bukhari 5544; Muslim 1968; Tirmidhi 1492; Abu Dawud 2821; Nasa’i 7/228; Ibn Majah 3183; Bayhaqi 9/246]
Scholarly Commentary
Imam al-Shawkani رحمه الله said:
This hadith proves the permissibility of shooting and eating an animal wounded in any part of the body, provided it is behaving like a wild animal.
[Nayl al-Awtār 5/221]
