The Case of One Who Hunts in the Sacred Area in the State of al-’ Ihram

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one in the state of Ihram kills a pigeon in al-Haram (the sacred area), he owes one sheep as expiation. The cost of a pigeon is one dirham or so, which must be given as charity or to feed thereby the pigeons of Makkah. If one kills it in al-Haram (the sacred area) and is not in the state of Ihram he owes its cost only.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who while in the state of Ihram eats the egg of pigeons of al-Haram (the sacred area). He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes one animal offering for each egg as well as the cost of each egg which is about one-sixth or one-fourth of one dirham in a settlement.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘The animal offering is obligatory because of his eating them in the state of Ihram and the penalty of payment of the cost of eggs is because of his taking them in al- Haram (the sacred area).”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who in the state of Ihram in al-Haram (the sacred area), takes hold of deer, draws its milk and drinks it. He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes one Dam (slaughtering of an animal as offering) and the penalty for doing it in al-Haram (the sacred area) is payment of its cost.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If you kill a prey while you are in the state of Ihram in al-Haram (the sacred area), ransom is double. If you kill a prey when you are not in the state of Ihram but it is in al-Haram (the sacred area), you owe only its cost. If you kill it while you are in the state of Ihram in non-al-Haram (the sacred area) you owe only one ransom.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Penalty is double only within what is less than badanah. Once it reaches the level of badanah, it then does not double because it is the greatest (animal as offering) that can (possibily) be. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘Those who maintain greatness for the reminders of Allah is because of piousness of the hearts.’” (22:33)

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.). ‘What is the law about a man, who intentionally kills a bird between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah, while in the state of Ihram?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes ransom, penalty and he must be reprimanded.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if one intentionally does it in al-Ka‘bah?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes ransom, penalty and reprimanding below hadd (a measure of legal physical punishment) in public sight to make it a lesson for the others.’”