Forbidden Hunting

All hunting - sea and land - is permissible **except in these cases**: --- **Case 1: Hunting in the Haram (Sacred Sanctuary)** It is **forbidden** for both the muhrim (in ihram) and others to hunt in the Haram - by consensus. **Evidence:** The Prophet ﷺ said on the day of the Conquest of Makkah: "Indeed Allah made this city sacred the day He created the heavens and the earth... Its thorns are not to be cut, and its game is not to be startled" [Bukhari & Muslim]. Ibn Hajar said: "Not startling game is a metaphor for not hunting... The scholars said: From the prohibition of startling, the prohibition of killing is understood a fortiori (by greater reason)." --- **Case 2: Hunting by the Muhrim (one in ihram)** It is **forbidden** for the person in ihram to hunt land game, or to help hunt it by pointing or signaling. **Evidence:** Allah says: "O you who believe, do not kill game while you are in ihram" [Al-Ma'idah: 95]. It is also forbidden for the muhrim to eat: - What he hunted himself - What was hunted for his sake - What he helped hunt **Evidence:** "And forbidden to you is game of the land as long as you are in ihram" [Al-Ma'idah: 96]. The Prophet ﷺ refused a wild donkey that al-Sa'b ibn Jathaamah gifted to him and said: "We only refused it because we are in ihram" [Bukhari].