Shooting down an animal
Question:-
1. If a person shoots an animal (with a firearm) after reciting the Tasmiyah (Bismillah), then will the animal be considered as Halaal if it is found dead before being slaughtered in accordance to Shariah?
2. If after shooting the animal, one manages to slaughter it in accordance to Shariah (as the animal is still living), then will it be permissible to consume?
Answer:-
1. If the animal is shot with a firearm and dies before being slaughtered, then it will not be permissible to consume, even though the Tasmiyah was recited when firing the shot. The animal is considered as Haraam as the animal could have died due to the impact of the bullet and not due to the wound.
However, if a projectile with a sharp edge or point (such as an arrow) was used (whilst reciting the Tasmiyah) for hunting down the animal, and it is certain that the animal died because of the wound caused by the pointed edge of the arrow, then it will be permissible to consume the animal.
Although some bullets also have sharp points, we are generally not certain in this regard (whether the animal dies due to the wound or due to the impact of the bullet hitting against its internal organs); hence we should consider the animal as Haraam, as a precautionary measure.
قال في الهداية: وكذلك إن جرحه إذا كان ثقيلا ولو به حدة لاحتمال أنه قتله بثقله، وإن كان خفيفا وبه حدة يحل، لتيقن الموت بالجرح، ثم قال: والأصل في هذه المسائل أن الموت إن كان مضافا إلى الجرح بيقين كان الصيد حلالا، وإذا كان مضافاً إلى الثقل بيقين كان حراماً،
وإن وقع الشك كان حراماً احتياطاً، والحديد وغيره سواء، اهـ (اللباب ص 89 ج2)
2. In the second scenario, it will be Halaal to consume the animal, since the animal was slaughtered according to Shariah after being shot, whilst the animal was still alive.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!