42/19. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4302 — Eating Game Tracked After One Night
The One Who Shoots An Arrow But (The Game) Gets Away From Him
Halal Game After a Night: Arrow and Predator Check
Sunan an-Nasai : 4302
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4302
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ مَيْسَرَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرْمِي الصَّيْدَ فَأَطْلُبُ أَثَرَهُ بَعْدَ لَيْلَةٍ . قَالَ " إِذَا وَجَدْتَ فِيهِ سَهْمَكَ وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ مِنْهُ سَبُعٌ فَكُلْ " .
`Adi bin Hatim Narrated from:
I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I shoot game and I follow its tracks after of night. He said: 'If you find your arrow in it, and no predator has eaten from it, then eat it.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4302In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 40English translation : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 4307
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4302
This Hadith answers a practical question about hunted game that is found after a night has passed. The Prophet's instruction ties permission to two clear signs. The hunter finds his own arrow in the animal, and no predator has eaten from it. This means the passing of one night is not the main issue. The key concern is whether the hunter's shot remained the known cause and whether another animal interfered with the game. The Hadith therefore teaches careful inspection before eating hunted meat. It also gives a simple way to deal with a delayed recovery during hunting. A hunter should follow the tracks, examine the animal, look for predator damage, and only then decide whether the game meets the stated conditions for eating.
What we learn from this hadith
- Track the animal carefully when it escapes after being shot.
- Check that your arrow is found in the game.
- Do not eat it if a predator has eaten from it.
- The passing of one night does not alone make the game unlawful.
