Things, Which Can Be Killed, and the Obligatory Expiation for It

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one in the state of Ihram is afraid of beasts or snakes and so on, one can kill them, however, if they do not attack, one must not attack them.”’

“When you assume the state of Ihram, you should stay away from killing all moving things except for the serpent, the scorpion and the rat because they tear the water containers and burn down (the house) upon the people of the house. As for the scorpion, the Holy prophet (sw) once extended his hand towards a stone and a scorpion stung him; so he (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘May Allah curse you. Neither do you leave a righteous one nor an immoral one’. As for the snake, if it intends to (attack you), kill it, but if it does not intend to, then do not intend to (attack it). If a vicious dog or a wild animal intends to (attack you), then kill them both, but if they do not intend to, then do not intend to (attack them). If it is the treacherous black snake, kill it in all conditions. If it is a crow or al-Hida’at (another kind of crow), shoot them (if they are) on the back of your camel.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘In al-Haram (the sacred area) and in the state of Ihram it is permissible to kill serpents, treacherous black snakes, all black snakes, scorpions, rats (what is al- Fuwaysaqah); and crows and al-Hida’at (another kind of crow) are pelted, and if thieves attack they are stopped.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘In the state of Ihram it is lawful for one to kill wasps (hornets), vultures, treacherous black snakes, wolves and whatever is feared for their harming one.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The biting dog is a wolf.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who kills a wasp. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is by mistake then there is nothing on him.’ I said, ‘No, it is done knowingly.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Feed a certain amount of food.’ I then asked, ‘Is it so even if it attacks me?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Anything that attacks, it is permissible for you to kill it.’”

“I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, ‘Can one in the state of Ihram kill a bug or flea if it attacks him?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one in the state of Ihram kills a Jerboa, hedgehog or a lizard, one must offer a goat, although a goat is much better than any of these but I say it, because such penalty stops one from hunting others.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Ticks are not from the camel. Al-Halamah is from the camel like lice are from your body, so do not throw them away; but throw away ticks.”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who in the state of Ihram removes ticks from the camel. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible but he must not remove al-Halamah.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One in the state of Ihram can kill anything whereby one fears for his life.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful to kill a flea, louse or a bedbug in al- Haram (the sacred area).”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of scratching my head in the state of Ihram when a louse fell off. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’ I then asked, ‘What you want me to pay for it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I place nothing on you to pay for a louse. There is not anything for it upon you.’”