protect themselves. The game within reach of spears and other pointed weapons consists of gazelles, wild cattle, and creatures that cannot be caught by hand.

Section

Allah Most High has generally permitted those not in ihrām to hunt by hand, with spears and other pointed weapons, and with animals suited to hunting. He, Most High, said:

“But when you come out of ihrām, you may hunt.” [al-Māʾidah: 2]

Through His Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—He excluded from this permission hunting within the sanctuaries of Mecca and Medina. The Prophet said:

“O Allah, Abraham declared Mecca sacred, and I declare the land between Medina’s two lava tracts sacred.”

Nevertheless, according to Mālik and the majority of scholars, anyone who kills game within Medina’s sanctuary owes no compensation; he need only seek Allah’s forgiveness.

Section

Hunting land game is thus permissible for someone not in ihrām outside the sanctuary, but forbidden to someone in ihrām, and also to someone not in ihrām within the sanctuary. Mālik—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—and most scholars disliked hunting merely for amusement, because it involves idle diversion, suffering, and exhausting animals without any beneficial purpose. He did not consider it permissible to shorten the prayers on such a hunting journey. There is, however, nothing objectionable in hunting for someone whose livelihood depends upon it or who craves meat.

Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Hakam permitted it on account of the general wording of Allah’s statement—Mighty and Majestic is He:

“But when you come out of ihrām, you may hunt.” [al-Māʾidah: 2]

Mālik—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was lenient regarding hunting by desert dwellers, since they are accustomed to it and it is their way of life. He regarded townspeople’s going out to hunt as foolish and frivolous. Allah Most High knows best, and success comes through Allah.