Conditions for Permissible Hunting

For hunting to be permissible, conditions must be met regarding the **hunter** and the **hunting instrument**. --- **I. CONDITIONS FOR THE HUNTER:** The hunter must meet the same conditions as the slaughterer: **1. Must be Muslim or Kitabi (People of the Book), sane** The following cannot make hunting halal: - The insane or drunk (lack qualification) - Zoroastrians, idol worshippers, or apostates (the hunter is like the slaughterer) **Exception:** What doesn't require slaughter (fish, locusts) is permissible even if caught by one whose slaughter is not valid. **2. Must intend to hunt** Because shooting the instrument or releasing the hunting animal takes the place of slaughter, intention is required. --- **II. CONDITIONS FOR THE HUNTING INSTRUMENT:** The instrument is of two types: --- **A. Sharp Instruments (that pierce):** Such as swords, knives, and arrows. **Conditions:** - Must cause blood to flow (same as slaughter instrument) - Must not be teeth or nails - Must pierce with its edge, not its weight **Evidence:** The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whatever causes blood to flow and Allah's name is mentioned over it, eat it" [Bukhari & Muslim]. When asked about hunting with the mi'rad (blunt arrow), the Prophet ﷺ said: "What it pierces, eat; what it kills by its weight, do not eat" [Bukhari & Muslim]. **Similar to the mi'rad:** stones, sticks, traps, and metal pieces - unless they pierce. **Exception:** Modern bullets are permissible because they have piercing force that causes blood to flow. --- **B. Trained Hunting Animals & Birds:** It is permissible to hunt with predatory beasts that hunt with their fangs and birds that hunt with their talons. **Evidence:** "And [lawful is] what you train of hunting animals, teaching them as Allah has taught you. So eat of what they catch for you, and mention Allah's name upon it" [Al-Ma'idah: 4]. **Examples:** - Predatory beasts: dog, cheetah - Birds of prey: falcon, hawk