34/12. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1957a — No Living Thing as a Target
The prohibition of cornering animals in order to kill them (for sport)
Hadith: Do Not Make Any Living Thing a Target
Sahih Muslim : 1957a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1957a
وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَتَّخِذُوا شَيْئًا فِيهِ الرُّوحُ غَرَضًا " .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Ibn 'Abbas reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said this: Do not make anything having life as a target.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1957aIn-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 88USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 21, Hadith 4813
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1957a
This hadith is short, but its message is very clear. Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Do not make anything having life as a target.” The core topic is animal mercy and respect for living beings. The wording is broad: anything with life should not be made a target. The hadith does not need a long story to be understood. It directly blocks a cruel form of play or practice. People often search it as “do not make living things targets hadith” or “animal cruelty hadith Islam.” The safest explanation is to stay with the wording: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told people not to use living creatures as targets.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave a direct prohibition in this wording.
- The wording includes anything that has life.
- Living creatures should not be used as targets.
- The hadith is brief, so it should not be expanded beyond its clear wording.
