If someone is wounded by a gun, who is at fault: the one who fired it or the owner?

Question

Question: A man asked another for his gun for hunting and said: “You come hunting too.” After leaving the village, the owner of the gun gave the gun to Zayd. Zayd fired at birds, and a pellet hit a man. The owner of the gun, having fallen into trouble, saved himself by giving four hundred rupees as a bribe. Both men are regular in fasting and prayer. Should that money fall upon the owner of the gun or upon Zayd?

Answer

The one who fired the gun is at fault; but giving one’s gun to others is also an offence. Hence both are at fault; let them come to a settlement between themselves.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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