Chapter on Hunting and Slaughtering

Allah (swt), the Blessed and Exalted, said: "They ask you what has been made lawful for them. Say: Lawful to you are all good things, and what you have taught of hunting animals, trained as hounds, teaching them of what…

'Mukallibeen' (those who train hunting dogs) Thus, apart from dogs, their catch is not lawful to eat unless you reach it and slaughter it properly."

Hadith.4122 - And in another narration, Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Eat whatever the dog has eaten from, even if it has eaten two-thirds of it. Eat whatever the dog has eaten, even if nothing remains of…

"I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a Magian's dog that is taken by a Muslim man, and he pronounces the name of Allah (swt) when releasing it. Should he eat what the dog catches for him?" Imam (as) said: 'Yes, because it is…

I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a dog that escaped and was not released by its owner, yet it hunted and its owner found it after it had killed the prey. Should he eat from it? Imam (as) said: 'No. If it hunted while the…

"If a man sends his hunting dog and forgets to mention the name of Allah (swt), it is like one who slaughters an animal and forgets to mention the name of Allah (swt). The same applies if he shoots (an arrow) and forgets…

Hadith.4126 - And the ruling regarding that, as mentioned in another narration, is: "He should mention the name of Allah (swt) at the time of eating."

Abu Abdullah (as), was asked about an animal shot with an arrow, and its owner finds it the next day. Should he eat from it? Imam (as) said: "If he knows that his shot is what killed it, then he may eat it, provided that…

Abu Abdullah (as), said: "Whatever is caught by a snare and has part of it severed, then it is considered dead. However, if you find the rest of its body alive, then perform the proper slaughtering (Zabiha) and eat from…

I said to Abu Abdullah (as): "I shoot an arrow, but I do not know whether I mentioned the name of Allah (swt) (Bismillah) or not." Imam (as) said: "Eat, and there is no problem." I said: "I shoot, and it disappears from…

Hadith.4130 - Muhammad ibn Ali al-Halabi asked Imam (as) about hunting when a man strikes the prey with his sword, pierces it with his spear, or shoots it with his arrow, and he had mentioned the name of Allah (swt)…

I asked Abu Abdullah (as), about a man who shoots an arrow at a game animal, and it strikes it sideways and kills it. He had mentioned the name of Allah (swt) (Bismillah) when he shot the arrow, but the arrowhead did not…

Hadith.4132 - Zurara heard Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), saying: "There is no harm in what the 'mi'raad' (a hunting tool) kills, as long as it is specifically made for that purpose."

"If he has no other arrows except the 'Mi'rad' and mentioned the name of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, over it, then he may eat from what it killed. However, if he had other arrows besides it, then he should…

Hadith.4134 - And Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, used to say: "If that is his weapon which he uses to hunt with, then there is no harm."

Hadith.4135 - And in another report: "If that is his shooting instrument, then there is no harm."

Hadith.4136 - And it was narrated: "If it pierced, it may be eaten, but if it did not pierce, it may not be eaten."

Hadith.4137 - Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said regarding a man who has arrows without iron tips, and they are entirely wooden. If he shoots with the wooden arrow and strikes the bird in the middle while it is flying and…

"No, it should not be eaten."

Hadith.4139 - Commander of the Faithful (as) said regarding a hunted animal that was found with an arrow in it and was dead, but it was not known who killed it. Imam (as) said: "Do not eat it." And Imam (as) said:…

Hadith.4140 - Imam (as) said regarding a deer that a man hunted, and people started cutting it up while the one who hunted it was trying to prevent them. Imam (as) said: "There is no prohibition in it, and there is no…

I asked Imam (as) about a man who shoots at game and brings it down, then the people rush to it and cut it up. Imam (as) said: "Eat it."

I heard Abu Abdillah (as) saying: "My father (as) used to issue legal rulings during the time of Banu Umayyah that what was killed by the hawk and the falcon was lawful, and he would do so out of precaution (Taqiyyah)…

"If you release a hawk, a falcon, or an eagle and it kills, do not eat it until you properly slaughter it."

Hadith.4144 - Imam (as) said: "If you send your hunting dog after a game and you catch up with it but do not have a blade to slaughter it with, then let the dog kill it, and you may eat from it."

Hadith.4145 - Commander of the Faithful (as) forbade hunting pigeons in cities.

I asked him and said: "May Allah (swt) rectify your affairs, what birds are permissible to eat?" Imam (as) said: "Eat whatever flaps its wings, and do not eat what glides." I said: "What about eggs found in thickets?"…

Hadith.4147 - The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "Every predatory animal with fangs and every bird with talons is unlawful."

I asked Abu al-Hasan (as) about water birds that eat fish, whether they are permissible to eat. He (as) said: "There is no harm in it, eat them."

Hadith.4149 - Kirdin al-Mismai asked Abu Abdillah (as) about the bustard bird. Imam (as) said: "I wish I had some of it so that I could eat until I am full."

Hadith.4150 - Zakariyya ibn Adam asked Abu al-Hasan (as) about water birds. Imam (as) said: "If they pick up things other than filth, then there is no harm in eating them."

Hadith.4151 - Abdullah ibn Sinan asked Abu Abdillah (as) about the eggs of water birds. Imam (as) said: "Whatever resembles the eggs of chickens in shape, then eat it."

Hadith.4152 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Eat from the fish that has scales, and do not eat from it that which has no scales."

Abu Abdillah (as) about a man who caught a fish, tied it with a string, and released it into the water, and then it died. Imam (as) said: "It should not be eaten."

Hadith.4154 - Abd al-Rahman ibn Sayabah asked him about fish that are caught, placed in something, and then returned to the water where they die. Imam (as) said: "Do not eat it, because it died in what is its source of…

I asked him about a fish that leaps out of the water, falls onto dry land, and struggles until it dies. I said: "Can I eat it?" Imam (as) said: "Yes."

"What his hand has done is permissible, so there is no harm in eating what was caught in it."

Hadith.4157 - Abu al-Sabbah al-Kinani asked Abu Abdillah (as) about fish caught by the Magians. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it; the catching of fish is merely taking them."

Hadith.4158 - In the narration of Abdullah ibn Sinan from Abu Abdillah (as), Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in pickled foods of the Magians, and there is no harm in their catching of fish."

Hadith.4159 - He said: I asked him about an enclosure made of reeds placed in the water for fish, and the fish enter it, and some of them die inside it. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it."

Hadith.4160 - Al-Halabi asked him about catching fish without mentioning the name of Allah (swt) over it. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it."

Hadith.4161 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Do not eat the catfish, nor the eel, nor the zabir, nor the tafiy, which is that which dies in the water and floats on the surface of the water."

Hadith.4162 - It has been narrated: "If someone finds a fish and does not know whether it is permissible to eat or not, then its tail should be split at the base. If the color turns green, it is not permissible to eat;…

I asked Abu Ibrahim (Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as)) about using a flint, a reed, or a piece of wood to slaughter an animal if one does not have a knife. Imam (as) said: "If it cuts the veins, then there is no harm…

"There is no harm in eating what is slaughtered with a stone if no iron is available."

"A group of people came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and said to him: 'A cow of ours overpowered us and became difficult to handle, so we struck it with a sword.' Prophet (peace and…

"A bull in Kufa became wild, and the people attacked it with their swords and struck it. They then came to Commander of the Faithful (as) and asked him about it. Imam (as) said: 'It is a valid slaughtering, and its meat…

I asked Imam (as) about a camel that fell into a well and was slaughtered from the side of its tail. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it if they mentioned the name of Allah (swt) over it."

I asked Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a man who was slaughtering an animal, and the knife moved too quickly and severed the head completely. Imam (as) said: "It is a valid slaughtering, and there is…

"If the blood flows, then eat."

Hadith.4170 - In the narration of Samaah from Abu Abdillah (as), Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it if the blood flows."

Hadith.4171 - Abu Basir asked Abu Abdillah (as) about a sheep that is slaughtered but does not move, yet a lot of fresh blood flows from it. Imam (as) said: "Do not eat it. Indeed, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) used to…

"Yes, it may be eaten, but he should not deliberately cut off its head."

"Do not eat from what has been killed by a predator, nor from that which has been beaten to death, strangled, fallen from a height, or gored, unless you find it alive and slaughter it properly."

regarding an animal that is slaughtered and has a fetus in its womb: "If it is fully formed, then eat it, for its slaughtering is the slaughtering of its mother. But if it is not fully formed, then do not eat it."

I asked him about the saying of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic: "Lawful to you are the beasts of cattle." (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:1) Imam (as) said: "The fetus, if it has grown hair or fur, its slaughtering is the…

a man asked him a question while I was present about cutting the tails of sheep. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in cutting them if you are doing so to improve your wealth." Then Imam (as) said: "Indeed, in the book of…

Hadith.4177 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Every animal that should be slaughtered but is instead killed by stabbing is unlawful, and every animal that should be killed by stabbing but is instead…

"There is no harm in it, and it is permissible for a woman and a child if they are in necessity."

Hadith.4179 - Al-Halabi asked him about the slaughtered animal of the Murji'ite and the Haruri. Imam (as) said: "Eat, and be at ease and settled until whatever is to happen occurs."

Hadith.4180 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Do not eat the slaughtered animal of a Jew, a Christian, a Magian, or anyone who opposes the religion, except if you hear him mention the name of Allah (swt)…

Hadith.4181 - And in the narration of Abdul Malik bin Amr, from Abu Abdullah (as), he said: "I asked him, 'What do you say about the slaughtered animals of the Christians?' Imam (as) said: 'There is no harm in them.' I…

I said to Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), 'Relate to me a narration and dictate it to me so that I may write it down.' Imam (as) said: 'Where is your memory, O people of Kufa?' I said: 'So that no one…

"It is the (mentioning of) the name, and none is to be trusted with it except a Muslim."

I said to Abu Abdillah (as), "We are in the mountains and we send the shepherds to the sheep. Sometimes a sheep is injured or something happens to it, and they slaughter it. Can we eat it?" Imam (as) said: "No, for it is…

"Eat if it is in the markets of the Muslims, and do not ask about it."

Hadith.4186 - And Muhammad ibn Muslim asked Abu Abdullah (as), about an animal that was slaughtered not facing the Qibla. Imam (as) said: "Eat, there is no harm in that as long as it was not done intentionally." He…

Hadith.4187 - And Muhammad ibn Muslim asked Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), about a man who slaughtered an animal while saying Subhan Allah (swt) (Glory be to Allah (swt)), or Allahu Akbar (Allah (swt) is…

"Yes, if he is not suspected (of negligence) and is known to perform slaughtering properly, and if he does not sever the spinal cord or break the neck until the animal has completely cooled (ceased movement)."

"Whoever does not mention the name of Allah (swt) when slaughtering, do not eat (from it)."

I asked Abu Abdullah (as), about the slaughtering done by a woman. Imam (as) said: "If they are women and there is no man among them, then the most knowledgeable one among them should slaughter and mention the name of…

"If a woman performs the slaughter properly and mentions the name of Allah (swt), then there is no issue with eating it. Likewise, the boy and the blind person, if they are guided, may also perform the slaughter."

Hadith.4192 - And in the narration of Ibn Muskan from Sulayman ibn Khalid, he said: "I asked Abu Abdullah (as), about the slaughter by a boy and a woman, can it be eaten? Imam (as) said: 'If the woman is a Muslim and…

"Imam Ali ibn Al-Hussain (as) had a servant girl who used to slaughter for him whenever he desired."

A LAMB OR A YOUNG GOAT THAT SUCKLES FROM THE MILK OF A SOW OR A WOMAN. Hadith.4194 - And Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, said: "Do not eat the meat of a lamb that has suckled from a sow."

Hadith.4195 - Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa wrote to Imam Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Hadi (as), inquiring about a woman who nursed a young goat with her milk until it was weaned. Imam (as) wrote in reply: "It is a disliked…

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about a young goat that had nursed from the milk of a sow until it grew up and matured. A man then bred it among his flock, and offspring were produced from it. Imam (as)…

Hadith.4197 - Muhammad ibn Muslim asked Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), about the meat of horses, beasts of burden, mules, and donkeys. Imam (as) said: "It is permissible, but people find it repugnant."

Hadith.4198 - And it has been narrated: "The mutated creatures (al-masukh) did not remain alive for more than three days. These were transformed as a lesson, and Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic, forbade eating…

I said to Abu Abdullah (as): A man from the followers of Abu Al-Khattab forbade me from riding Bukt (a type of camel) and eating the meat of 'musarwal' pigeons (pigeons with feathered legs). Abu Abdullah (as) replied:…

Hadith.4200 - And in the narration of Al-Qasim bin Muhammad Al-Jawhari: The cow is to be confined for twenty days."

Hadith.4201 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), said: "Everything in the sea that has a counterpart on land which is permissible to eat is also permissible to eat. And everything in the sea that does not have a…

"Do not eat the eel (al-jirri) and do not eat the spleen (al-tihal)."

I heard Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), say: "Indeed, when Ibrahim (as), peace be upon him, intended to slaughter the ram, Iblis came to him and said: 'This belongs to me.' Ibrahim (as), peace be upon…

Hadith.4204 - Muhammad ibn Isma'il ibn Bazi' wrote to Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as), saying: "The people have differed regarding the rabbit (al-rabitha). What do you command me concerning it?" Imam (as) wrote back:…

"Fayd ibn Al-Mukhtar gifted a rabbit (al-rabitha) to Abu Abdullah (as). He brought it to him while I was present. Imam (as) looked at it and said: "This has a shell (skin)," and Imam (as) ate from it while we were…

"That which is thrown out by the water from the fish and that which the water recedes from should not be eaten, for that is considered abandoned."

I said to Abu Abdullah (as): "May I be your ransom! What do you say about eating 'Kan'at'?" Imam (as) replied: "There is no harm in eating it." I said: "But it has no scales." Imam (as) replied: "Indeed, it does!…

Abu Abdullah (as), said: "Everything that contains both lawful and unlawful elements is always lawful for you until you specifically identify the unlawful part, at which point you must avoid it."

I asked Abu Abdullah (as), about castration, but Imam (as) did not answer me. Then I asked Abu Al-Hasan (as) about it, and Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it."

I said to Abu Abdullah (as), regarding the young goat that the Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, passed by and it was dead. And He (sw) said: "What harm would it have been to its…

Hadith.4211 - Sa'eed Al-A'raj asked Abu Abdullah (as), about a pot containing camel meat into which an ounce of blood had fallen. Imam (as) said: "Yes, it can be eaten because the fire consumes the blood."

I asked Abu Abdullah (as), about the rennet (infaha) that comes out of a dead kid (young goat). Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it." I asked about the milk that is in the udder of a sheep that has died. Imam (as)…

I asked Imam (as) about what has been sacrificed for other than Allah (swt). Imam (as) said: "Whatever is slaughtered for an idol, a statue, or a tree, Allah (swt) has forbidden it, just as He (swt) has forbidden…

Hadith.4214 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Whoever is compelled by necessity to eat from a dead animal, blood, or the flesh of a pig, yet refrains from eating any of it until he dies, then he is…

I asked Imam (as): "Why did Allah (swt) make wine, dead meat, blood, and the flesh of pigs forbidden?" Imam (as) replied: "Indeed, Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, did not forbid these things to His servants while…

Hadith.4216 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), said: "In a sheep, there are ten parts that are not to be eaten: the dung, the blood, the spinal marrow, the spleen, the glands, the penis, the testicles, the uterus,…

Hadith.4217 - Imam (as) said: "Ten things from a dead animal are considered pure: the horn, the hoof, the bone, the tooth, the rennet, the milk, the hair, the wool, the feathers, and the eggs."

Hadith.4218 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), was asked about the saying of Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic: "And the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you" (Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:5).…

Hadith.4219 - And in the narration of Hisham ibn Salim from Imam (as) that He (as) said: "Lentils, chickpeas, and other similar items."

Hadith.4220 - Sa'id al-A'raj asked Imam (as) about the leftover (drink or food) of a Jew or a Christian: "Is it permissible to eat or drink from it?" Imam (as) said: "No."

"Regarding the vessels of the Magians, if you are compelled to use them, then wash them with water."

Hadith.4222 - And Al-'Ays ibn Al-Qasim asked Imam (as): "Regarding eating with a Jew or a Christian?" Imam (as) said: "There is no harm if it is from your food." And he asked Imam (as) about eating with a Magian. Imam…

"I asked him about the vessels of the People of the Book." Imam (as) said: "Do not eat in their vessels if they eat in them the dead (carrion), blood, or the flesh of swine."

I said to Abu Abdullah (as): 'I am a shoemaker, and our work cannot be done without using pig hair to sew with.' Imam (as) said: 'Take a single bristle from it and place it in a clay pot, then light a fire underneath it…

Hadith.4225 - And in the narration of Abdullah ibn al-Mughirah from Burd, he said: I said to Abu Abdullah (as): 'May I be your ransom! We work with pig hair, and sometimes a man forgets and prays while having something…

"I heard Abu Abdullah (as), say: 'There is no believer who has a milking goat in his house except that the people of that house are sanctified and blessed. If there are two goats, they are sanctified twice each day.' A…

Hadith.4227 - Commander of the Faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, said: "Fear Allah (swt) regarding what He (swt) has entrusted to you, and regarding the 'Ajm' among your possessions." Imam (as) was asked:…

Hadith.4228 - A man complained to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, about feeling lonely. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, instructed him: "Keep a pair of pigeons."

Hadith.4229 - Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, said: "Indeed, the fluttering of pigeons' wings drives away the devils."

"Abu Hamzah prepared food for us while we were a group. When the food was served, Abu Hamzah noticed a man excessively gnawing on a bone. He shouted at him and said: 'Do not do that! For I heard Imam Ali ibn Al-Hussain…

Hadith.4231 - It was said to Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as): "We have heard that the Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: 'Indeed, Allah (swt), the Blessed and Exalted,…

Messenger of Allah (swt) prohibited eating meat raw, meaning uncooked. The Prophet (sw) said: "It is only eaten by wild beasts." Hariz said: "This means until it is altered by the sun or fire."

Hadith.4233 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "No type of crow, whether a 'Zagh' or any other kind, is permissible to eat, and nothing from snakes is permissible to eat."

"I sometimes killed them in their houses."

"Meat nourishes the flesh, and fish melts the body. Gourd increases intelligence, and eating eggs frequently increases offspring. No sick person has sought healing with anything better than honey. And whoever consumes a…