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Is Hunting Permissible?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org

Question:

Assalamu ‘Alaykum.

Are hunting and falconry permissible? Some cows are subjected to awful animal cruelty. Can we buy the leather from non-halal, non-tayyib, abused cows?

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

Hunting Is Permissible With Conditions

Yes, hunting is permissible if it is for food or as a means of income. Such as if someone hunted to earn a living from selling the materials gained from the animals hunted.

Hunting for sport, however, is not permissible. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Don’t treat anything that has a soul as a target.“ (Muslim) (Ibn ‘Abidn, Radd al Muhtar, al Mawsu’a al Kuwaitiyya)

Animal Cruelty Is Impermissible

Treating animals with cruelty is impermissible and a form of wrongdoing. This applies more so in the cases where people make animals fight and get injured. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) passed by a donkey that had been branded on its face, and he said, “Allah has cursed whoever branded it.“ (Muslim)

Therefore, these practices are clearly impermissible. It would, however, be permissible to purchase the hide of the cows you mentioned in the sense that it is a valid transaction. However, it is more ethical to avoid it, not to support the industry.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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