What is the ruling on eating game meat if its hunter does not pray or is a disbeliever?
If someone abandons prayer while denying its obligation, then he is an infidel (kafir) whose slaughtered meat (dhabihah), hunted game, or marriage is impermissible. However, if he abandons it out of laziness and not out of denial, then there is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding his infidelity. Whoever deems him an infidel applies the previous ruling to him. But whoever does not deem him an infidel (and considers him a disobedient Muslim) sees no harm in eating his slaughtered meat or hunted game. The slaughtered animals and hunted game of infidels who are not People of the Book are impermissible by consensus. As for the People of the Book, their slaughtered meat is permissible, based on the Almighty's saying: "This day [all] good foods have been made lawful for you. And the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them" [Al-Ma'idah:5]. Scholars have unanimously agreed on the permissibility of their slaughtered animals. As for their hunted game, there is a difference of opinion, but most scholars consider it permissible because it is part of their food and falls under the general meaning of the verse.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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