Advice for those who are preoccupied with hunting to the neglect of their obligations
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
What is your Excellency’s opinion regarding those who have devoted themselves to following hunting and become captivated by it, such that it has become their primary concern and preoccupation? They have neglected the rights of their families and the upbringing of their children, and have been deficient in providing for them. It has even been mentioned regarding the state of some of them that they borrow more than their salary to buy ammunition, which is all spent, most of it on play. Among them are those who used to memorize the Qur'an by heart, but after becoming preoccupied with hunting, they forgot it, or forgot much of it. What is your guidance?
Our guidance to these people who have been tested by hunting and have neglected their obligations is to fear Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and to know that their effort in hunting and going to it, while neglecting their obligations—whether the obligation is to Allah the Mighty and Majestic or to the created beings—means that they are committing a sin. And every step they take is a sin upon them until they fulfill the obligation that Allah has made obligatory upon them, whether the right belongs to Allah or to the servants. Let them know that this trial is a test from Allah the Mighty and Majestic; because whenever the soul becomes attached to something that Allah dislikes, it is a trial for the person. So he should fear Allah, return to his self, and make hunting a secondary matter. If he has free time, there is no harm in him going out to hunt to catch what Allah has made lawful for him; because this is part of the provision by which a person is provided. However, if it occupies him from the obligations of the religion, that is not permissible.
Our guidance to these people who have been tested by hunting and have neglected their obligations is to fear Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and to know that their effort in hunting and going to it, while neglecting their obligations—whether the obligation is to Allah the Mighty and Majestic or to the created beings—means that they are committing a sin. And every step they take is a sin upon them until they fulfill the obligation that Allah has made obligatory upon them, whether the right belongs to Allah or to the servants. Let them know that this trial is a test from Allah the Mighty and Majestic; because whenever the soul becomes attached to something that Allah dislikes, it is a trial for the person. So he should fear Allah, return to his self, and make hunting a secondary matter. If he has free time, there is no harm in him going out to hunt to catch what Allah has made lawful for him; because this is part of the provision by which a person is provided. However, if it occupies him from the obligations of the religion, that is not permissible.