Is a missed shot counted against the archer if the miss is due to an intervening accident?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Racing and Archery

Book 58 · Issue 1 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If an archer misses the target due to an intervening obstacle, such as a broken bow, a snapped string, or an animal passing in front, or a strong wind blowing the arrow sideways, the miss is not counted against the archer. This is because the miss is attributed to the accident, not to poor shooting skill. If the arrow strikes the target despite such an impediment, it is still not counted for him, according to Al-Qadi. The justification is that just as strong wind can divert a good throw into a miss, it could divert a misaimed arrow into a hit; thus, the hit is due to the wind, not the archer's proficiency. Furthermore, if the arrow strikes an obstacle between the archer and the target, passes through it, and hits the target, it is counted for him because the initial impact confirms the accuracy of his shot, and passing through is due to the arrow's force, making it superior to a direct hit.

Supporting text

If the wind is light and gentle, which normally would not deflect an arrow, it is not considered an excuse for a miss, as the air is never entirely still, and such light wind only affects weak or poor shots.