and find palatable, provided that no text in the Quran or Sunnah has come forbidding it.

“And what you have trained of hunting animals”: that is, the game caught by the hunting animals you have trained has also been made lawful for you.

The scholars differed concerning these hunting animals. Al-Dahhak and al-Suddi said: They are dogs alone, to the exclusion of all others; and the game caught by any animal other than a dog is not lawful unless one reaches it in time to slaughter it properly. This view, however, is not acted upon. Rather, the general body of scholars holds that hunting animals refers to those beasts of prey and birds of prey that catch game, such as cheetahs, leopards, and dogs among beasts, and hawks, eagles, falcons, and the like among birds—provided they are capable of being trained. The game caught by all of them is lawful.

They are called jawarih because they procure their owners’ sustenance from game—that is, they earn it for them. Thus it is said, “So-and-so is the provider for his family.”

“Training them for hunting”: one who trains dogs for hunting, or urges them on toward game, is called a dog trainer. The owner of dogs is also called a dog handler, as is one who hunts with them. The word “training” is in the circumstantial accusative, meaning: while you are training these hunting animals—that is, urging them on toward game. Dogs are specifically mentioned because they are the most common and widespread, though all hunting animals are intended.

“Teaching them”: that is, training them in the proper manner of catching game.

“From what Allah has taught you”: that is, from the knowledge Allah has taught you. Al-Suddi said: It means, “as Allah has taught you”; the word “from” here has the meaning of “as.”

“So eat of what they catch for you.” This means that when a trained hunting animal is sent out by its owner, catches the game, and kills it, it is lawful. Training consists of three qualities being found in it: when sent after game, it goes forth; when called off, it stops; and when it catches game, it holds it without eating from it. When this is observed repeatedly—at least three times—it is regarded as trained, and the game it kills when sent by its owner is lawful.

Abd al-Wahid ibn Ahmad al-Mulayhi informed us; Ahmad ibn Abd Allah al-Nu'aymi informed us; Muhammad ibn Yusuf informed us; Muhammad ibn Isma'il informed us; Musa ibn Isma'il informed us; Thabit ibn Zayd informed us, from Asim, from al-Sha'bi, from Adi ibn Hatim, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When you send your trained dog and pronounce the name of Allah, and it catches and kills the game, then eat. But if it eats from it, do not eat, for it caught it for itself. If it joins other dogs over which the name of Allah was not pronounced, and they catch and kill the game, then do not eat, for you do not know which of them killed it. And if you shoot game and find it after a day or two, bearing no mark but that of your arrow, then eat; but if it falls into water, do not eat.” (1)

They differed regarding the case in which the hunting animal catches game and eats some of it. Most scholars held that it is forbidden. This was narrated from Ibn Abbas, and it was the view of Ata', Tawus, and al-Sha'bi. It was also held by al-Thawri, Ibn al-Mubarak, and the scholars of legal opinion.