Transliteration:( Yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanoo laa taqtulus saida wa antum hurum; wa man qatalahoo minkum mut'am midan fajazaaa'um mislu maa qatala minanna'ami yahkumu bihee zawaa 'adlim minkum hadyam baalighal Ka'bati aw kaffaaratun ta'aamu masaakeena aw 'adlu zaalika Siyaamal liyazooqa wabaala amrih; 'afal laahu 'ammaa salaf; wa man 'aada fayanta qimul laahu minh; wallaahu 'azeezun zuntiqaam )
"O believers! Kill not game while you are in a pilgrim's garb [260]. And whoso among you kills intentionally [261], his compensation is that he should give a like animal from amongst the cattle as judged by two just persons among you. This offering should reach the Ka'bah. Or, as an alternate compensation, he should give food to some needy persons or should fast [262], to its equivalent [263], so that he may taste the enormity of his deed. Allah has pardoned what happened in the past. But, if anyone repeats it, Allah will take retribution from him. And Allah is Mighty in exacting retribution [264]."
This verse confirms that hunting land animals while in Ihram is haram. Exceptions include harmful or predatory animals such as rabid dogs, wolves, vultures, rats, crows, and the like. Killing insects like mosquitoes or bugs is also excused, as these are not classified under game hunting. The prohibition applies specifically to game animals, not to harmful pests.
If a person in Ihram hunts a land animal intentionally, compensation becomes obligatory. While this verse emphasizes intentional hunting, the Hadith literature extends rulings to unintentional hunting as well. In both cases, expiation must be fulfilled, showing that Ihram carries a sacred boundary.
According to Imam Abu Hanifa (RA), the compensation refers to the monetary value of the hunted animal, not the actual animal. But Imam Shafi’i (RA) interprets “like animal” to mean an actual domesticated animal of similar type. Hence, Abu Hanifa’s view requires paying the value in cash, while Shafi’i allows offering the like animal as compensation.
There are three methods of compensation for hunting during Ihram:
Offer a similar animal and have it sacrificed at the Haram.
Purchase wheat with the animal’s value and distribute it to the poor (2.5 kg per person).
Fast one day for every 2.5 kg portion of wheat that equals the animal’s value.
This provides flexibility based on one’s means and ensures sincere atonement.
This verse reaffirms that hunting in Ihram is a serious violation. Even assisting in the act—such as pointing at game or helping the hunter—is forbidden for a pilgrim. A Mohrim cannot eat the meat of hunted animals, even if hunted by a non-pilgrim. If multiple animals are hunted, each requires separate expiation, and repetition invites divine punishment. Allah is Powerful in justice.
The tafsir of Surah Maidah verse 95 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Maidah ayat 94 which provides the complete commentary from verse 94 through 95.
(5:95) Believers! Do not kill game while you are in the state of pilgrim sanctity.[110] Whoever of you kills it wilfully there shall be a recompense, the like of what he has killed in cattle – as shall be judged by two men of equity among you – to be brought to the Ka’bah as an offering, or as an expiation the feeding of the needy, or its equivalent in fasting[111] in order that he may taste the grievousness of his deed. Allah has pardoned whatever has passed; but Allah will exact a penalty from him who repeats it. Allah is All-Mighty. He is fully capable of exacting penalties.
110. When a person is in the state of pilgrim sanctity (ihram) it is prohibited for him both to hunt and to assist in hunting animals. Indeed, even if an animal has been hunted for him by someone else he may not eat it. However, if someone hunts an animal for himself and makes a gift of it to such a person, there is no harm in his eating it. There is an exception to this injunction and that is with regard to harmful animals. Snakes, scorpions, mad dogs and other such animals which cause injury to man may be killed even by one in the state of ihram. (See Bukhari, ‘Talaq’, 24; ‘Sayd’, 2; Abu Da’ud, ‘Manasik’, 40, 41; Tirmidhi, Hajj’, 27; ‘Sayd’, 26 – Ed.)
111. It would also be ‘two men of equity’ (Surah Al-Maidah, ayat 95) to judge as to the number of persons one should feed or the number of days one should fast by way of expiation for killing a certain animal.
[283]- See footnote to 5:1. [284]- Refer to footnote for 3:5.
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