Fatwa ID: 08710

 

 

Answered by: Mufti Muhammad Altaf Hossen 

 

Question:

 

My roommate is a Christian who shot a deer, he told me that he did not say “In the name of God” before shooting, but intended to say it, and said it after the deer was shot. Would the meat of this deer be halal for me to eat?

 

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

 

Answer:

 

In Islamic jurisprudence, the permissibility of eating meat depends on the manner in which the animal was slaughtered. For hunting with weapons such as a gun or bow, the following conditions must be met for the meat to be considered halal:

 

 

The Name of Allah (Tasmiyah): The hunter must say “Bismillah”  at the time of shooting the weapon or releasing the arrow. If this is intentionally omitted, the meat is not halal. However, if it was forgotten, the meat is permissible.

 

 

The Animal’s Death: The death of the animal must be caused by the weapon or projectile itself. If the animal was alive after being shot and then killed without proper Islamic slaughter.

 

 

The Person Hunting: The person hunting must be a Muslim, a Jew, or a Christian, as their slaughter is permissible for Muslims, provided it meets the above criteria.

 

 

The Situation: Your roommate is a Christian, so his hunt can be permissible for you if other conditions are met. However, he did not say “Bismillah” at the time of shooting, but intended to say it and said it afterward.According to the Hanafi the Tasmiyah must be pronounced at the time of shooting or slaughter, not afterward. Mere intention or saying it later does not suffice. Since the Tasmiyah was not uttered at the time of the shot, the meat of the deer would not be halal for you. Allah says:

 

 

فَكُلُوا مِمَّا ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ بِآيَاتِهِ مُؤْمِنِينَ

So eat of that over which the Name of God was pronounced, if you indeed believe in His revelations.

 

 

وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُمْ مَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا لَيُضِلُّونَ بِأَهْوَائِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُعْتَدِينَ

And why should you not eat of that over which the Name of God is pronounced, when He has detailed for you what is prohibited for you, unless you are compelled by necessity? Many lead astray with their opinions, through lack of knowledge. Your Lord knows best the transgressors

 

 

وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَفِسْقٌ ۗ وَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰ أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ لِيُجَادِلُوكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ

And do not eat from that over which the Name of God was not pronounced, for it is abomination. The devils inspire their followers to argue with you; but if you obey them, you would be polytheists.(Surah Al-An’am 118 ,119,121)

 

 

Based on this information, it would not be halal for you to eat the deer shot by your roommate since the required condition of saying “Bismillah” at the time of the shot was not fulfilled.

 

 

 

References: 

 

Badais- Sanayee  fi tartibish sharayee ,( chapter:6  page:218 pdf Imam Alauddin Abi bakr ibn Masud  Al-Kasane Al- hanafi)

 

Mukhtasarul Quduri

 

Raddul Muhtar vol-09, (Kitabuz Zabaaeh page 438)

 

 

 

 

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Mufti Muhammad Altaf Hossen 

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham