Hunting in Islam – Muslim Matrimonial

Hunting is a big part of life where I live, Alberta, and in the Western world. When converting to Islam, learning how to hunt properly and ensure that what I have killed is Halal, was an important topic for me. I was happy to learn that hunting according to the Quran was a very simple affair and does not require much.

What does the Quran say about hunting

Let’s take a look at what the Quran says about hunting, in Surah Al Ma’idah (Ma’idah, meaning Dining Table) it says in verse 3 and 4,

“Forbidden to you are carrion, blood, and swine; what is slaughtered in the name of any other than Allah; what is killed by strangling, beating, a fall, or by being gored to death; what is partly eaten by a predator unless you slaughter it; and what is sacrificed on altars. You are also forbidden to draw lots for decisions.1 This is all evil. Today the disbelievers have given up all hope of ˹undermining˺ your faith. So do not fear them; fear Me! Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your way. But whoever is compelled by extreme hunger—not intending to sin—then surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

“They ask you, ˹O Prophet,˺ what is permissible for them ˹to eat˺. Say, “What is good and lawful. Also what is caught by your hunting animals and birds of prey which you have trained as instructed by Allah. So eat what they catch for you, but mention the Name of Allah over it ˹first˺.” And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is swift in reckoning.”

The important parts of these verses are that it is permissible to eat what is slaughtered in the name of Allah SWT, and it has not been killed by strangling, beating, a fall or by being gored to death. Furthermore, we must look at Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 67, Number 385-387, where is says:

Narrated ‘Adi bin Hatim:

I asked Allah’s Apostle about the Mi’rad. He said, “If you hit the game with its sharp edge, eat it, but if the Mi’rad hits the game with its shaft with a hit by its broad side do not eat it, for it has been beaten to death with a piece of wood. (i.e. unlawful).” I asked, “If I let loose my trained hound after a game?” He said, “If you let loose your trained hound after game, and mention the name of Allah, then you can eat.” I said, “If the hound eats of the game?” He said “Then you should not eat of it, for the hound has hunted the game for itself and not for you.” I said, “Some times I send my hound and then I find some other hound with it?” He said “Don’t eat the game, as you have mentioned the Name of Allah on your dog only and not on the other.”

Further quotes

Volume 7, Book 67, Number 386:

Narrated Adi bin Hatim:

I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! We let loose our trained hounds after a game?” He said, “Eat what they hunt for you.” I said, “Even if they killed (the game)?” He replied, ‘Even if they killed (the game).” I said, ‘We also hit (the game) with the Mi’rad?” He said, “Eat of the animal which the Mi’rad kills by piercing its body, but do not eat of the animal which is killed by the broad side of the Mi’rad.”

Volume 7, Book 67, Number 387:

Narrated Abu Tha’laba Al-Khushani:

I said, “O Allah’s Prophet! We are living in a land ruled by the people of the Scripture; Can we take our meals in their utensils? In that land there is plenty of game and I hunt the game with my bow and with my hound that is not trained and with my trained hound. Then what is lawful for me to eat?” He said, “As for what you have mentioned about the people of the Scripture, if you can get utensils other than theirs, do not eat out of theirs, but if you cannot get other than theirs, wash their utensils and eat out of it. If you hunt an animal with your bow after mentioning Allah’s Name, eat it. and if you hunt something with your trained hound after mentioning Allah’s Name, eat of it, and if you hunt something with your untrained hound (and get it before it dies) and slaughter it, eat of it.”

What it means

To clarify some terms, a Mi’rad is a sharpened piece of wood, or a piece of wood with a sharp metal end, essentially an arrow.

We are allowed to hunt as long as we mention Allah’s SWT name, it is a common consensus that as long as we mention Allah’s SWT name as we release the arrow, it is acceptable. But if the arrow does not pierce the animal and it dies, it is considered to be beaten to death and is not permissible.

Nowadays we have high powered rifles, so what is the procedure? It is the same as if you were hunting with a bow. As you pull the trigger, mention Allah’s SWT name and it will be halal.

If you release your arrow, or fire your gun and you come across the animal still alive, you must perform a normal Zabiha, which consists of invoking the name of Allah while cutting the jugular veins, carotid artery and windpipe of the animal.

Hunting with dogs

As discussed in an earlier article, hunting with dogs is permissible in Islam, but there are a few rules.

You must mention the name of Allah over your hound as you send him to hunt, but if you come across your dog eating the catch it is not permissible, it is assumed that the dog has hunted for himself and not for you.

If you find your hound has caught the prey but there is another hound with him, it is not permissible, as you do not know which hound caught the prey and you only invoked Allah’s SWT name over your hound and not the other.

In Sahih Bukhari, it differentiates between trained and untrained hounds. If your trained hound kills an animal, and you invoked Allah’s SWT name it is permissible to eat, however, if your untrained hound kills an animal it is not permissible. Although it is permissible to eat if you come across the animal still alive and you perform Zabiha.

Snaring

According to the Quran, it is not permissible to eat an animal that has been strangled. Most snares in the market today are neck snares that strangle prey, which is not permissible. However, trapping animals is permissible, but keep in mind that you should check live traps daily so as to not allow the animal to suffer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hunting in Islam is very simple despite the few rules to follow. Although there are some differing opinions, I tried to stay true to the Quran and Hadiths. To recap, as you are pulling the trigger or releasing your arrow, invoke Allah’s SWT name (Bismillah). If you find the animal alive, you must perform Zabiha. But if you find the animal dead and your arrow has not pierced its body, it is not permissible to eat. It is good hunting etiquette to use equipment rated for the game you are hunting, so as to not cause suffering.