43/41. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4440 — Do Not Use Animals as Targets
Prohibition Of (Eating) An Animal, Which Ws Used As A Target
Animal Cruelty in Islam: Never Use Animals as Targets
Sunan an-Nasai : 4440
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4440
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ زُنْبُورٍ الْمَكِّيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ الْهَادِ - عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ مَرَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى أُنَاسٍ وَهُمْ يَرْمُونَ كَبْشًا بِالنَّبْلِ فَكَرِهَ ذَلِكَ وَقَالَ " لاَ تَمْثُلُوا بِالْبَهَائِمِ " .
'Abdullah bin Ja'far Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah passed by some people who were shooting arrows at a ram. He denounced that and said: 'Do not disfigure animals (by using them as targets). (Sahih)
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4440In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 80English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4445
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4440
This hadith gives a clear lesson about animal cruelty in Islam. The Messenger of Allah saw people shooting arrows at a ram and openly rejected what they were doing. He then told them not to disfigure animals by using them as targets. The main point is simple: a living animal is not an object for entertainment, training, or careless harm. Target practice must not be done on a creature that can feel pain and suffer injury. The hadith also shows that cruelty should be challenged when it is seen. Kindness to animals in Islam includes protecting them from needless wounds, humiliation, and abuse. The text does not discuss lawful hunting or slaughter. It directly condemns turning an animal into a target.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not use a living animal for target practice.
- Needless injury and disfigurement of animals are forbidden in this text.
- Cruel treatment should be rejected when it is witnessed.
- Animals must not be treated as objects for amusement.
