Hunting Birds and Animals for Pleasure. List of Halal Animals
Posted: 3 Jamad-ul-Awwal 1423, 14 July 2002
| Q.) 1. Can we do hunt the birds and animals any time? And without a need of food, just for pleasure and enjoyment? [Kamran Waheed Khan]
2. Is their any principal and rule by adopting that, every lay person like me can find which animals and birds are halal and which are haram. Please describe in detail, as we got problems while tour to hunt. |
A.) 1. From a Fatwa point of view, hunting for pleasure is permissible if one does not become unmindful of his Shar’ee obligations, for example, Salat, etc. which is generally the consequences of hunting. Rasulullah 
said, ‘Whosoever follow an animal of hunt, (generally) becomes unmindful.’
It is, however, against the demands of Taqwa. Life is extremely short and cannot be wasted on futilities, i.e. activities that are neither a worldly need nor any benefit in the Aakhirat (hereafter). It is best to abstain.
2.) There is no all encompassing principle that can be applied here. We list below some halal and haram animals as a guide. This is according to the Hanafi Madhab.
Halal
Goat, Sheep, Cattle, Bufallo, Buck, Fish, Camel, Gazelle, Onager, Rabbit, Fowls, Ducks, Pigeon, Sparrow, Partridge, Crane, Locusts, Bustard, Owl, Swift, Giraffe, Magpie, Quail, Lark, Starling, Sand Grouse, Nitingale, Ostrich, Peacok, Goose, Turtle Dove, Stag, Swan, Dolphin, Shark
Haram
Insects, Snake, Lizard, Gecko, Mice, Rats, Hedgehog, Jerboa, Weasel, Frog, Lion, Wolf, Jackal, Leopard, Tiger, Lynx, Cheetah, Panther, Fox, Cat, Squirrel, Fennel, Sable, Bear, Monkey, Ape, Elephant, Dog, Falcon, Hawk, Saker, Kite, Eagle, Vulture, Bat, Turtoise, Crocodile, Mongoose, Ferrent, Raven
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best