What is the basis for the permissibility of hunting and eating game?

Primary text

The permissibility of hunting and consuming game is established by the Quran, the Sunnah, and scholarly consensus. The Quran permits the taking of sea game as food for people and travelers, and restricts land game while in the state of Ihram (Quran 5:96). It further commands believers to hunt after exiting the state of Ihram (Quran 5:2) and permits eating what trained hunting animals catch when the name of Allah is mentioned (Quran 5:4). Sunnah evidence includes the narration of Abu Tha'labah al-Khushani, where the Prophet peace be upon him permitted eating game caught by a bow if the name of Allah was mentioned, and game caught by a trained dog if the name of Allah was mentioned. Game caught by an untrained dog is permissible if the required method of slaughter (dhakat) is reached. Furthermore, game caught by a trained dog is permitted even if the dog kills it, provided no other dog shares in the catch. Concerning the arrow, that which pierces is permissible to eat, but that which kills by blunt impact is not permissible.