Game and Ihraam (Hadith No. 1574)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 29, Number 51:

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu):

From As-Sa’b bin Jath-thama Al-Laithi that the latter presented an onager to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) while he was at Al-Abwa’ or at Waddan, and he refused it. On noticing the signs of some unpleasant feeling of disappointment on his (As-Sab’s) face, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said to him, “I have only returned it because I am Muhrim.”

Apparently there’s ikhtilaaf (difference) between today’s hadith and yesterday’s post. And due to this ikhtilaaf, scholars have also differed in their opinions regarding the ruling for a muhrim eating game. One group says a muhrim is allowed to eat game because of Abu Qatada’s hadith, and the other group says a muhrim must not eat game because of the above hadith and this ayah:

..forbidden is (the pursuit of) land-game as long as you are in a state of Ihram (for Hajj or ‘Umrah). [5:96]

The correct and balanced opinion, that of most scholars (including Imaam Maalik, Shafi`i and Ahmad etc.), is that a muhrim is allowed to eat the game that was not hunted for him specifically. But the game that was hunted for him, as it was done in the above mentioned hadith, he cannot eat it, nor accept it.

If it so happens that someone offers you something that’s forbidden in Ihraam while you’re in Ihraam, you may refuse them politely, saying something like “a muhrim is not allowed to have such-and-such”. Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) refused politely as well, and when he saw the person getting disappointed, he told him the reason. Remember, accepting something that’s forbidden in Ihraam while you’re in Ihraam for the fear of offending the other person is not allowed. Fear disobeying Allah more.

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