Hunting Domestic Birds

“I once asked al-Rida 5 (a.s.), about the case of a man who hunts a bird which is worth a large amount of dirham and it has leveled wings. He knows the owner of the bird or that he comes to ask about the bird but does not accuse him. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not lawful for him to keep. He must return it to him.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if he hunts that which has control over its wings and no one asking for it is known ? 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘It becomes his property. 5 ”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a bird has full control over its wings (is able to fly) it then belongs to whoever catches it . 555

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about hunting pigeons worth one-half of a dirham or one dirham. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you know its owner return it to him; but if you do not know its owner and its wings are complete with both of which it can fly then it is yours . 555

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, if a bird is trapped in the house and it is taken, is taking it lawful or unlawful. He (the Imam) asked, ‘O ’Isma‘il is it healthy or it is not healthy and free ? 5 I then asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what is healthy ? 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘It is one with complete wings with full control on them and is able to fly wherever it wants . 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘Such ones belong to whoever catches them . 555

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu 5 minin has said, ‘The birds which have full control over their wings, belong to whoever catches them and they are lawful for them . 555

“About a man who sees a bird and follows it until it sits on a tree and another man comes and takes it, ’Amir al-Mu 5 minin (a.s.), has said, ‘For an eye is what it has seen and for hands is what they catch 5 ”