43/41. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4441 — The Warning Against Living Targets
Prohibition Of (Eating) An Animal, Which Ws Used As A Target
Hadith About Animal Cruelty: A Living Being Is Not a Target
Sunan an-Nasai : 4441
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4441
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَنِ اتَّخَذَ شَيْئًا فِيهِ الرُّوحُ غَرَضًا .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah cursed those who take anything that has a soul as a target. (Sahih)
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4441In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 81English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4446
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4441
This hadith is a direct warning against animal cruelty in Islam. Ibn Umar reports that the Messenger of Allah cursed those who take anything with a soul as a target. The wording covers living creatures in a broad way and makes the moral line easy to understand. A creature with life must not be tied, placed, or kept in one spot so that people can shoot at it for practice or amusement. Such an act causes fear, pain, and injury without treating the animal with proper care. The hadith uses very serious language, showing that this is not a light matter. Kindness to animals in Islam means refusing activities that turn suffering into sport. The teaching here is limited and clear: never make a living being the object of target practice.
What we learn from this hadith
- Anything with a soul must not be used as a shooting target.
- The hadith gives a severe warning against deliberate cruelty.
- Entertainment does not justify causing an animal pain.
- Respect for life includes how people train and practise skills.
