وَلَا تَصْحَبُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ رُفْقَةً فِيهَا جِلْدُ نَمِرٍ
Does نمر mean leopard or tiger?
Answer
Translation
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “The angels do not accompany any group of travellers that have with them the skin of a namir.”
Explanation
The word namir is explained to be a predatory cat that; has a fierce rivalry with the lion – despite its smaller size, is able to cover long distances in a single leap and whose skin is covered in black dots.
(Sharh Ibn Raslan, Hadith: 4129)
The linguists explain numrah to be a pattern of spots, and the reason that the cat is named after it because of its spotted skin. (Lisanul Arab; Al Qamusul Muhit; Tajul ‘Arus)
From the above, it would seem that the word namir would better describe a leopard than a tiger. It is important to note than the prohibition of wearing the skin or hide of a predatory animal is not necessarily exclusive to the leopard, as Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) prohibited us from wearing the skins of all predatory animals.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4131)
Please do confirm the fiqh of these Hadiths with a reputable, Mufti/Darul Ifta.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar