Thinking of hunting with a firearm? Before you cook that game, check these rules — from the type of bullet to saying God’s name, they’ll determine whether the meat is halal
In Islam, the ruling on killing animals that are lawful to eat with a bullet depends on specific conditions.
In general, if the following conditions are observed, killing a halal animal with a bullet is permissible:
The bullet must be sharp enough to pierce the animal’s body. If the projectile kills the animal only by pressure or heat (i.e., without penetrating), its ruling is doubtful.
The hunter must be a Muslim who is of age and able to distinguish right from wrong. If the shooter is a non-believer or someone hostile to the Ahl al-Bayt, the kill is not considered permissible.
The bullet must be fired with the explicit intent of hunting the animal. If the animal is killed accidentally, the meat is not permissible.
At the moment of shooting, the hunter must invoke the name of God (say Bismillah). Forgetting to say God’s name inadvertently is excused, but deliberately omitting it renders the kill impermissible.
The hunter must reach the animal while it is still alive and, if necessary, have time to perform the proper slaughter (cutting the throat). If the animal dies before the hunter reaches it, or if there is not enough time to perform the slaughter, the meat is impermissible.
These conditions determine whether killing a halal animal with a firearm is acceptable in Islamic law: projectile type, the hunter’s faith and competence, hunting intent, invoking God’s name, and ensuring the animal can be properly reached and slaughtered.
