Hunting of Falcons, Hawks and Others

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘My father would give fatwa but he was afraid, so he was cautious. We were afraid about hunting by falcons and hawks but now we are not afraid, and we say that it is not lawful, unless one arrives in time to slaughter it properly. It is in the book of Ali (a.s.), that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, ‘. . . and what you train of dogs for hunting’ is about dogs only.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If you send a falcon, a hawk or an eagle to catch a prey, do not use it for food unless you arrive in time to slaughter it properly, and if it has already killed the prey then do not use it for food.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who sends his dog and hawk to hunt. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not use for food what the hawk hunts, unless you arrive in time to slaughter it properly. You can use for food what the dog hunts if you have mentioned the name of Allah on it, regardless, the dog has eaten anything or has not eaten.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), disliked what a falcon hunted unless one arrived in time to slaughter it properly.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who sends his falcon or dog to catch a prey which then catches a prey and eats thereof; if he can use the remaining for food. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, do not use for food what the falcon kills, unless you slaughter it properly.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the hunting of falcons and hawks. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not use for food what falcons and hawks kill as well as what the predator birds kill.’”

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘What do you say about falcons, hawks and eagle?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If you arrive in time to slaughter it properly, then you can use it for food but if you do not arrive in time then do not use it for food.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘In the time of banu ‘Umayyah my father (a.s.), would give fatwa that what falcons and hawks kill is lawful for food. He (the Imam) was afraid but I am not afraid and I say that it (what is hunted by falcons and hawks) is not lawful to use for food.”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the hunting of falcons which it catches and eats thereof; if the remaining can be used for food. He (the Imam) said, ‘Whatever birds eat do not use it for food unless you slaughter it properly.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about falcons and hawks and their hunting. He (the Imam) said, ‘Whatever they have not killed and you have slaughtered properly, is lawful and the last time for slaughtering is when the eyes move, legs run and the tails move.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Hawks and falcons are not mentioned in the Quran.’”

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not eat what predator birds kill.’”