What is the ruling on eating game animals slaughtered by a person in the state of Ihram (pilgrim)?
Chapter on What the Muhrim Must Avoid and What is Permissible for Him
Al-Mughni
Book of Hajj
Primary text
Game slaughtered by a person in the state of Ihram becomes carrion (*maytah*) and is prohibited for consumption by all people. This is the position held by Al-Hasan, Al-Qasim, Salim, Malik, Al-Awza'i, Al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, and the Ashab al-Ra'y (followers of the Hanafi school). The evidence for this ruling is that the animal is a creature whose slaughter has been forbidden to the pilgrim due to a right belonging to Allah (Taa'ala). Therefore, its slaughter does not render it permissible, similar to the slaughter of a Magian (Zoroastrian). This distinction separates it from other animals whose slaughter is not forbidden to the pilgrim, and also separates it from game slaughtered by a non-pilgrim, whose slaughter is permissible.
Supporting text
There are differing opinions. Al-Hakam, Al-Thawri, and Abu Thawr state that it is permissible to eat the game slaughtered by the pilgrim, likened to the slaughter of a thief by Al-Mundhir. 'Amr ibn Dinar and Ayyub al-Sakhtiyani permit a non-pilgrim to eat it. An old opinion attributed to Al-Shafi'i suggests it becomes permissible for others to eat because whoever permits the slaughter of non-game animals (like domestic animals) should permit the slaughter of game, similar to a non-pilgrim.