chapters, and under this is mentioned a ḥadīth from ‘Ā’ishah, according to which certain people came to the Holy Prophet and enquired of him about meat which was brought to them by other people, about which they did not know whether the name of God had been mentioned over it or not. The Holy Prophet’s reply was: “Mention the name of Allāh over it and eat it” (Bu. 72:21). This gives a wide latitude in doubtful and difficult cases where a Muslim must depend on food provided or prepared by other people.

Game

The Holy Qur’ān expressly allows game: “The good things are allowed to you and what you have taught the beasts and birds of prey, training them to hunt — you teach them of what Allāh has taught you; so eat of that which they catch for you, and mention the name of Allāh over it” (5:4). Ḥadīth18 makes it clear that the name of Allāh is to be mentioned when letting off the beast or bird of prey. The animal caught may be eaten even though it is killed by the beast or bird of prey. The killing of game by throwing pebbles and hazelnuts is however forbidden. Killing it by arrow is allowed, since the arrow causes the blood to flow. Game shot with a gun must follow the same rule, but in both cases the bismillāh must be uttered before letting off the arrow or firing the gun, and if the game is killed before it is caught and slaughtered, there is no harm. As regards the game of sea or water, it is all to be taken as slaughtered.

Prohibitions in Ḥadīth and Jurisprudence

According to Ḥadīth, the Holy Prophet prohibited all beasts of prey with a nāb (the canine tooth) and all birds of prey with a claw.19 The tame ass is also prohibited, but not the wild ass which is allowed,20 the mule is prohibited but not the horse.21 Dhabb (lizard) is not prohibited, but the Holy Prophet did not eat it when it was brought before him.22 In one ḥadīth it is said that the Holy Prophet did not eat the hare, though he did not prohibit it,23 as if he did not like it personally, but this is the view of ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar and some others as against the universal view; and Bukhārī has a clear report that when the hare was hunted by Abū Ṭalḥah and he sent a part of it