The Trial of Allah for the Companions in Facilitating Hunting While in a State of Ihram
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The Shaykh : In this Ummah, Allah has forbidden us to hunt while we are in a state of ihram, that is, while we are muhrim. So the Exalted and Majestic said: [Al-Ma'idah 5:95] Allah intended to test this Ummah, which is the noblest of nations and the most worthy of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Allah intended to test them. They were in a state of ihram; they were in a state of ihram. So Allah sent down game upon them. Allah sent down game upon them that your hands could reach and your spears could strike. [Al-Ma'idah 5:94] Your hands could reach what crawls, and your spears could strike what flies. Usually, how is flying game caught? With arrows, by shooting. And crawling game is caught with spears; a person throws a spear and hits it. But here, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, intended to test them, so He sent down game such that the flying kind could be reached by a spear, and the crawling kind could be reached by the hand. One would catch a hare, catch a gazelle, catch a lizard, catch a gerbil with his hand. The flying kind in the sky would descend and come down so that one could reach it with his spear, strike it, and it would fall. Is there any facilitation of sin in this? Yes? Answer. Answer.
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : But what did the Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) do? None of them took a single piece of game. They did not take any game, neither that which their hands could reach nor that which their spears could strike. By this, the virtue of this Ummah over other nations is known. I ask Allah the Exalted to make me and you among the Ummah of Muhammad, and to gather us all in his group, and to give us to drink from his pool, and to admit us into his intercession. Indeed, He is capable of all things.
The student: Amen.
O you who have believed, do not kill game while you are in the state of ihram.
يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تقتلوا الصيد وأنتم حرمO you who have believed, Allah will surely test you through something of the game that your hands and spears [can] reach
يا أيها الذين آمنوا ليبلونكم الله بشيء من الصيد تناله أيديكم ورماحكمThe student: Yes.
The Shaykh : But what did the Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) do? None of them took a single piece of game. They did not take any game, neither that which their hands could reach nor that which their spears could strike. By this, the virtue of this Ummah over other nations is known. I ask Allah the Exalted to make me and you among the Ummah of Muhammad, and to gather us all in his group, and to give us to drink from his pool, and to admit us into his intercession. Indeed, He is capable of all things.
The student: Amen.