HUNTING AND FISHING
- Details
- Category: Nabi Isa (Alayhis Salaam)
- Created: Friday, 12 September 2014 14:33
- Hits: 1249
A Concerned Brother writes:
"Even wealthy people claim that fishing and hunting are permissible. They present the excuse of eating the fish and the meat of the hunted animal. Although fishing and hunting are not their sources of livelihood, they present arguments in favour of these 'sporting' events.
The true reason for hunting and fishing is pleasure, sport and to wile away the time. They have an abundance of food of many varieties, yet they offer the excuse of food for justifying their fishing and hunting.
They are not concerned with the pain and injury caused to animals which are shot and cannot be tracked. The animal suffers agonizing pain. Is this not zulm? Some pious Ulama also go hunting.
What about injuring the fish with hooks, and the zulm inflicted on live bait? And, what about fishing competitions in which the fish are tagged and released. The fish injured by the hooks are released whilst they bleed, either to suffer, recover or perish a slow death. What does Islam say about all this zulm which people, even Ulama, commit for their pleasure?
COMMENT
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
- "He who has no mercy, mercy shall not be shown to him."
- "Beware of the curse of the mazloom (the one on whom zulm is committed), for verily Allah raises it above the clouds, and the portals of the heaven are opened for it (i.e. for the curse). Rabb (Allah Azza Wa Jal), then proclaims: "I take an oath by My Might that most certainly I shall aid you even though it be after some time."
Furthermore, the hunter has been described as 'ghaafil' in the Hadith. Hadhrat Nabi Isaa (alayhis salaam) cursed the hunter. Hunting and fishing involve heinous acts of cruelty to the fish and animals. It is allowed only for those whose livelihood is dependent on it. But for sport and pleasure, hunting and fishing are haraam.
Ulama who squander the valuable ni'mat of Time by which Allah Ta'ala takes an oath, are not Ulama in the Qur'aanic meaning of the term. Those who fish and hunt are not pious. They are cruel and ghaafil (oblivious of reality). The objective (Maqsad) of life on earth is hidden from them. Such slaves of the nafs should not be called 'Ulama'. A fundamental attribute of the Ulama stated in the Qur'aan Majeed is Khashiyat (fear blended with humility) which is a vital effect of Taqwa. A zaalim cannever be a repository of Taqwa. Piety is not restricted to outward appearances and observance of the ritual acts of Ibaadat. All sport of the Mu'min is baatil (haraam) according to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). A sport which is accompanied by cruelty is an aggravated prohibition.