34/12. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1958a — Curse on Making a Hen a Target
The prohibition of cornering animals in order to kill them (for sport)
Hadith About Shooting a Tied Hen: A Serious Warning
Sahih Muslim : 1958a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1958a
وَحَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي كَامِلٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ مَرَّ ابْنُ عُمَرَ بِنَفَرٍ قَدْ نَصَبُوا دَجَاجَةً يَتَرَامَوْنَهَا فَلَمَّا رَأَوُا ابْنَ عُمَرَ تَفَرَّقُوا عَنْهَا . فَقَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ مَنْ فَعَلَ هَذَا إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَعَنَ مَنْ فَعَلَ هَذَا .
Sa`id bin Jubair Narrated from:
Ibn 'Umar happened to pass by a party of men who had tied a hen and were shooting arrows at it. As soon as they saw Ibn 'Umar, they scattered from it. Thereupon Ibn Umar said: Who has done this? Verily Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has invoked curse upon him who does this.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1958aIn-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 90USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 21, Hadith 4815
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1958a
This narration shows how seriously the Companions treated cruelty toward animals. Sa’id ibn Jubair reported that Ibn Umar passed by people who had tied a hen and were shooting arrows at it. When the people saw Ibn Umar, they scattered. Ibn Umar then asked who had done it and said that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم had invoked curse upon the one who does this. The report is direct and firm. It is not talking about proper hunting for food. It is about tying a living bird and using it for arrows. The strong wording makes this hadith important for searches like “hadith about animal cruelty” and “Prophet cursed animal target.”
What we learn from this hadith
- A hen was tied and used as a target.
- The people scattered when they saw Ibn Umar.
- Ibn Umar connected the act to a curse mentioned from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- The report treats this kind of animal cruelty as a serious matter.
