Essay: Hunting in Arabia

Sample Essay

Words 1,320

Arabia has a long and rich tradition of hunting. Arabic traditional hunting techniques incorporate the use of the hunting dog and the hunting falcon. According to an old Arab saying, “Game does not taste good without a long chase” (Allen and Smith).

Islamic scripture and religious literature make a number of references to hunting. The Quran explicitly allows the use of animals in hunting:

“They ask thee what is lawful to them (as food). Say: lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure: and what ye have taught your trained hunting animals (to catch) in the manner directed to you by Allah: eat what they catch for you, but pronounce the name of Allah over it: and fear Allah; for Allah is swift in taking account.” (The Quran 5:4)

The preceding verse forbids the consumption of carrion, animal that have died from asphyxiation, falling off a high place, being gored to death or bludgeoned or beaten to death with a blunt instrument (The Quran 5:3).

Books of Islamic Jurisprudence usually have extensive sections on the legal rules governing hunting, for example, according to a modern day translation and commentary on a the century text of the Maliki school:

“The ruling for hunting wild land animals is as follows:

a) Hunting wild land animals is obligatory if it is the only way to obtain food.

b) Hunting wild land animals is praiseworthy if it is done to give one’s family more sustenance (food, clothes, floor mats, etc.).

c) Hunting wild land animals is permissible if it is done to gain a livelihood.

d) Hunting wild land animals is reprehensible if it is done for sport or entertainment.

e) Hunting wild land animals is forbidden if it is done without any purpose except to kill and cause pain to the animal.” (Hasani)