43/41. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4439 — Do Not Shoot Animals for Targets
Prohibition Of (Eating) An Animal, Which Ws Used As A Target
The Prophet’s Ban on Using Living Animals as Targets
Sunan an-Nasai : 4439
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4439
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ مَعَ أَنَسٍ عَلَى الْحَكَمِ - يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَيُّوبَ - فَإِذَا أُنَاسٌ يَرْمُونَ دَجَاجَةً فِي دَارِ الأَمِيرِ فَقَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تُصْبَرَ الْبَهَائِمُ .
Hisham bin Zaid Narrated from:
Ans and I entered upon Al-Hakam - that it, Ibn Ayyb - and there were some people shooting at a chicken in the house of the governor. He said: 'The Messenger of Allah forbade using animals as targets;'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4439In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 79English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4444
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4439
This hadith about using animals as targets describes a real scene. Hisham bin Zaid entered with Anas and found people shooting at a chicken in the governor’s house. Anas responded by saying that the Messenger of Allah had forbidden using animals as targets. The example makes the prohibition easy to understand: the chicken was alive and was being used for shooting practice. The narration does not describe hunting for food or lawful slaughter; it addresses turning an animal into a target. Readers searching for the Islamic teaching on animal cruelty can see a direct objection from Anas based on the Prophet’s prohibition. The lesson should stay with humane treatment and the specific banned practice shown in the report.
What we learn from this hadith
- Anas objected when he saw people shooting at a chicken.
- He based his objection on a prohibition from the Messenger of Allah.
- Living animals must not be used as targets for shooting practice.
- The report concerns target practice, not a separately described act of hunting.
