Is it permissible to use the Persian bow (Qaws Fārisiyya) for archery?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Racing and Archery
Primary text
The apparent view of Ahmad is that the use of the Persian bow is permissible. He explicitly stated the permissibility of racing with it. The permissibility is supported by the consensus on its use in archery and its lawful carriage, as it has been used across many eras, including the current one and many past eras, for Jihad. The ruling is further supported by the command to prepare whatever power one can, as mentioned in Quran 8:60, which includes the bow as part of that power.
Supporting text
A dissenting view, attributed to Abu Bakr bin Ja'far, holds that using the Persian bow is disliked (makruh). This is based on a narration where the Prophet, peace be upon him, saw a man with a Persian bow and commanded him to discard it, stating it was cursed, and instead advised using Arabian bows and spears, for which religion is supported and dominion established on Earth. This narration was transmitted by Al-Athram.