Does the pigeon of Makkah or al-Madinah have a special status unlike others?
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Fatwa number ( 1208 ):
Q: I heard one of the pilgrims to the House of Allah the Exalted say: Any pigeon in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah , when its time of death approaches, flies to Makkah al-Mukarramah and splits the sky of the Sacred Ka'bah as a farewell to it, then dies after flying a distance of miles. Is this true or not? Please inform us.
A: The pigeon of al-Madinah and the pigeon of Makkah have no special status that distinguishes them from other pigeons, except that it is not permissible to hunt them or drive them away for a person in the state of ihram for Hajj or 'Umrah, or for a non-muhram, as long as he is in the sacred precinct of Makkah or in the sacred precinct of al-Madinah . If he leaves them, it becomes permissible to hunt them for a non-muhram for Hajj or 'Umrah, like other game; due to the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Ma'idah 5:95], and due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 1833 ... The hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari, and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1362 narrated by Muslim. So whoever claims that any pigeon in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah , when its time approaches, flies to Makkah and passes through the air of the Ka'bah , is ignorant and has claimed something that has no basis in truth. For the times of death are known only to Allah. Allah the Exalted said: [Luqman 31:34], and the farewell to the Ka'bah is only by the tawaf of one who performed Hajj or 'Umrah around it. So the claim that the pigeon knows the approach of its death, and that it bids farewell to the Ka'bah by flying over it, is a false claim that only an ignorant person who fabricates lies against Allah and His servants would dare to make. And Allah is the One to be sought for help. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I heard one of the pilgrims to the House of Allah the Exalted say: Any pigeon in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah , when its time of death approaches, flies to Makkah al-Mukarramah and splits the sky of the Sacred Ka'bah as a farewell to it, then dies after flying a distance of miles. Is this true or not? Please inform us.
A: The pigeon of al-Madinah and the pigeon of Makkah have no special status that distinguishes them from other pigeons, except that it is not permissible to hunt them or drive them away for a person in the state of ihram for Hajj or 'Umrah, or for a non-muhram, as long as he is in the sacred precinct of Makkah or in the sacred precinct of al-Madinah . If he leaves them, it becomes permissible to hunt them for a non-muhram for Hajj or 'Umrah, like other game; due to the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted:
O you who have believed, do not kill game while you are in the state of ihram.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَقْتُلُوا الصَّيْدَ وَأَنْتُمْ حُرُمٌAllah has made Mecca, a sanctuary, so it was a sanctuary before me and will continue to be a sanctuary after me. It was made legal for me (i.e. I was allowed to fight in it) for a few hours of a day. It is not allowed to uproot its shrubs or to cut its trees, or to chase (or disturb) its game
إن الله حرَّم مكة فلم تحل لأحد قبلي، ولا تحل لأحد بعدي، وإنما أحلت لي ساعة من نهار، لا يختلى خلاها، ولا يعضد شجرها، ولا ينفر صيدهاIbrahim declared Mecca as sacred; I declare Medina, that between the two mountains, as inviolable. No tree should be lopped and no game is to be molested.
إن إبراهيم حرم مكة ، وإني حرمت المدينة ما بين لابتيها، لا يقطع عضاهُها ولا يصاد صيدهاand no soul perceives in what land it will die
وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَيِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.