The Differences in Hunting on Land and in the Sea and Lawful Hunting in the State of al-’ Ihram

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful to catch fish while one is in the state of Ihram and use it for food, regardless if it is salty or fresh. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, “Hunting from the sea is made lawful for you and sea food is for your supplies.” (5:96) He (the Imam) has said, ‘The salty one is what you use for food. The difference in between is that every bird in the jungle that lays egg on land and hatches on land is of the hunting prey on land. Of the hunting subject on land those which lay eggs in the sea and hatch in the sea are of the objects of hunting from the sea.”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Everything that originates from the sea but is found on land and in the sea, should not be killed by those who are in the state of Ihram. If they kill such animals, they owe penalty as Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said.’”

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a man who is in the state of Ihram and kills a locust. He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes one handful of food, but if they are many then he owes one sheep.’”

“About a man who kills a locust while in the state of Ihram, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He must feed a date (to a destitute person), even though a date is better than a locust.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must take notice that whatever moving things you or your camel may step on, you owe ransom therefore.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that once Ali (a.s.), passed by a people who were eating locusts. He said Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects) and you are in the state of Ihram! They said, ‘It is of the object of hunting from the sea.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If that is the case, then throw them in the sea.’”

“One of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘A person in the state of Ihram should avoid locusts, if they are on the road but if it is not avoidable and they get killed, then there is nothing on him.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about locusts which get into the people’s goods and they unintentionally trample upon them or when passing on the road; step on them. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you can, avoid it but if you kill it unintentionally, then there is nothing on you.”’

“One of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘One in the state of Ihram, must not eat sea birds.’”