34/12. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1958b — Live Bird Used as a Target
The prohibition of cornering animals in order to kill them (for sport)
Hadith About Making a Live Bird a Target
Sahih Muslim : 1958b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1958b
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، قَالَ مَرَّ ابْنُ عُمَرَ بِفِتْيَانٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ قَدْ نَصَبُوا طَيْرًا وَهُمْ يَرْمُونَهُ وَقَدْ جَعَلُوا لِصَاحِبِ الطَّيْرِ كُلَّ خَاطِئَةٍ مِنْ نَبْلِهِمْ فَلَمَّا رَأَوُا ابْنَ عُمَرَ تَفَرَّقُوا فَقَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ مَنْ فَعَلَ هَذَا لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ فَعَلَ هَذَا إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَعَنَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ شَيْئًا فِيهِ الرُّوحُ غَرَضًا .
Sa`id bin Jubair Narrated from:
Ibn 'Umar happened to pass by some young men of the Quraish who had tied a bird (and th, is made it a target) at which they had been shooting arrows Every arrow that they missed came into the possession of the owner of the bird. So no sooner did they see Ibn 'Umar they went away. Thereupon Ibn 'Umar said: Who has done this? Allah has cursed him who does this. Verily Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) invoked curse upon one who made a live thing the target (of one's marksmanship).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1958bIn-book reference : Book 34, Hadith 91USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 21, Hadith 4816
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1958b
This narration gives another clear example of the same animal mercy teaching. Ibn Umar passed by young men of Quraysh who had tied a bird and were shooting arrows at it. The owner of the bird would receive every missed arrow. When the young men saw Ibn Umar, they went away. Ibn Umar then asked who had done it and said, “Allah has cursed him who does this.” He also said that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم invoked curse upon the one who made a live thing the target of marksmanship. The hadith is highly direct. It speaks against using a living creature as a target, even when people treat it like sport or practice.
What we learn from this hadith
- A live bird had been tied and used for shooting practice.
- The young men left when they saw Ibn Umar.
- Ibn Umar condemned the act strongly.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم invoked curse upon one who made a live thing a target.
