Is game lawful if the hunter intends to hunt a specific animal but kills a different one, or if a trained beast kills game different from the one it was trained for?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Hunting and Slaughter

Book 56 · Issue 7 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If the hunter intends to hunt game, and strikes a different animal, both are lawful. The trained beast is treated similarly to an arrow in this regard. This is the position affirmed by Ahmad, as well as Al-Thawri, Qatadah, Abu Hanifah, and Al-Shafi'i. The primary evidence is the general statement of the Almighty: "So eat of what they have taken for you" (Quran 5:4), and the Prophet’s statement: "When you send your dog and mention the name of God upon it, eat of what it holds for you." Another supporting Hadith is: "Eat what your bow brings back to you."