What is your esteemed opinion regarding one who is tested by hunting to the extent that he falls short in his obligations?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
What is your esteemed opinion regarding one who devoted himself to pursuing hunting and became obsessed with it, such that it became his primary concern and preoccupation? He neglected the rights of his family and the upbringing of his children, and fell short in providing for them. It was even mentioned regarding the state of some of them that he would borrow more than his salary to buy ammunition, which would all be spent, most of it on play. Some of them were known to have memorized the Qur'an by heart, but after becoming preoccupied with hunting, he forgot it, or forgot much of it. So what is your guidance? May Allah benefit you with it.
The Shaykh : Our guidance to these people who have been tested by hunting and neglected their obligations is that they should fear Allah the Exalted and Majestic, and know that their effort in hunting and going to it, while neglecting their obligations—whether the obligation is to Allah the Exalted and Majestic or to a creation—means that they are sinful. And any step they take is a sin upon them until they fulfill the obligation that Allah has made obligatory upon them, whether it is a right of Allah or a right of the servants.
And let them know that this trial is a test from Allah the Exalted 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.
What is your esteemed opinion regarding one who devoted himself to pursuing hunting and became obsessed with it, such that it became his primary concern and preoccupation? He neglected the rights of his family and the upbringing of his children, and fell short in providing for them. It was even mentioned regarding the state of some of them that he would borrow more than his salary to buy ammunition, which would all be spent, most of it on play. Some of them were known to have memorized the Qur'an by heart, but after becoming preoccupied with hunting, he forgot it, or forgot much of it. So what is your guidance? May Allah benefit you with it.
The Shaykh : Our guidance to these people who have been tested by hunting and neglected their obligations is that they should fear Allah the Exalted and Majestic, and know that their effort in hunting and going to it, while neglecting their obligations—whether the obligation is to Allah the Exalted and Majestic or to a creation—means that they are sinful. And any step they take is a sin upon them until they fulfill the obligation that Allah has made obligatory upon them, whether it is a right of Allah or a right of the servants.
And let them know that this trial is a test from Allah the Exalted 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.