They cite the general purport of the hadiths indicating that hunting the game of the Sanctuary is prohibited. The correct view, however, is that sea game may be caught within the Sanctuary, (1) because Allah the Exalted says:

“Lawful to you is the game of the sea and its food, as a provision for you and for travelers; but forbidden to you is the game of the land so long as you are in a state of ihram.” [al-Ma'idah 5:96]

This is general in meaning. Thus, if there happened to be a pond of water, or the like, containing fish that had not been brought into it but had bred there, the sound view is that catching them is not prohibited; rather, they are lawful for both one in ihram and one who is not.

The ruling on hunting its game is the same as the ruling on the game hunted by one in ihram. It is forbidden to cut its green trees and herbage, except idhkhir.

His statement, “The ruling on hunting its game is the same as the ruling on the game hunted by one in ihram,” means: according to the details mentioned previously. Thus, compensation is due: an equivalent sacrificial animal to the one killed from among grazing livestock, feeding poor persons as expiation, or the equivalent of that in fasting.

His statement, “It is forbidden to cut its green trees and herbage”: trees are those plants that have trunks, while herbage is that which has no trunk.

The evidence for this is that the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Its trees are not to be cut, its herbage is not to be mown, and its fresh pasture is not to be gathered.” (2) All of this further emphasizes the sanctity of this place: even its trees are inviolable, and its game is inviolable. Were it not for the mercy of Allah, the Exalted, all animals would have been inviolable; but that would impose hardship upon people, so hunting was prohibited only within the Sanctuary.

His statement, “Its trees”: the trees are ascribed to the Sanctuary, which indicates that what is prohibited is