Catching Fish with a Hook Is Permissible

Question

Question: In some places a person fishes for pleasure in his own private pond. When a large fish is caught on the hook, it is difficult to lift it out of the water at once, so when the fish runs, the line has to be given slack, and afterwards it has to be pulled in slowly, little by little. This goes on for quite a long time, and when the fish tires, it is lifted out of the water. Some people say that this is impermissible, and they give as the reason that the fish suffers pain.

Answer

Since it is difficult to pull a large fish caught on the hook in with the line at once, it is given slack, and when it tires it is pulled in. According to the Shariʿa there is nothing objectionable in this. It is like chasing a land animal: when it runs until it tires and falls, it is caught. However, causing pain without reason is wrong.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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