Hunting with rifle and crossbow
| Fatwa #1598 | Category: Food & Drink | Country: Zambia | Date: 16th September 2025 |
| Fatwa #1598 | Date: 16th September 2025 |
| Category: Food & Drink | |
| Country: Zambia | |
Question
sallams,
1. if hunting with a rifle, if the shooter says tasmiyah before pulling the trigger, will the animal be halal or is slaughtering compulsory?
2. if hunting with a bow, if the shooter says tasmiyah before pulling the trigger, will the animal be halal or is slaughtering compulsory?
jazakallah
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
In principle, when hunting, it is necessary to utter the tasmiyah upon the weapon being used to hunt the prey.[1] For modern day hunting, this will be applicable to point-edged rifle bullets and crossbows. Therefore, if the shooter utters the tasmiyah before pulling the trigger (of the rifle or crossbow), it will suffice.
However, in the event the animal is not instantly killed by the bullet or arrow, and remains alive, it is necessary to pursue the animal until it is found. If the animal is pursued and then found dead, the animal will be Halal. If the animal is found alive, it is necessary to slaughter the animal with the tasmiyah once more. If one does not pursue the animal and later finds it dead, the animal will not be Halal. Similarly, if one finds the animal alive but slaughters it without a new tasmiyah, the animal will not be Halal.
If one forgets to utter the tasmiyah, it will be considered as though he uttered it. If one intentionally did not utter the tasmiyah, the animal will not be Halal.
If one used buckshot, birdshot or the like, then if it kills the animal, the animal will not be Halal. If it wounds the animal and one thereafter slaughters the live animal with tasmiyah, it will be Halal.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Bilal Pandor
Concurred by
Mufti Nabeel Valli
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia
[1] https://daruliftaazambia.com/fatwa/?id=1580
فتاوى دار العلوم زكريا ج6 ص195-232