Is the consumption of the desert fox (Thalab) permissible?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Hunting and Slaughter
Primary text
The consumption of the desert fox is prohibited according to the majority of narrations attributed to Ahmad ibn Hanbal. This view is also held by Abu Hurairah, Malik, and Abu Hanifah, based on the reasoning that the fox is a predatory animal (*sabu'*) and thus falls under the general prohibition against consuming such animals.
Supporting text
A narration from Ahmad permits its consumption. This view was chosen by Al-Sharif Abu Ja'far. Additionally, Ata', Tawus, Qatadah, Al-Layth, Sufyan ibn Uyaynah, and Al-Shafi'i permitted it, based on the evidence that the desert fox can be ransomed (*yufda*) if killed during Ihram or in the Sacred Precincts (Haram). Ahmad and Ata' state that anything which requires a ransom (*yuda*) if killed by a person in Ihram is permissible to eat.