Is It Permissible to Intend to Follow the Sunna in Our Firearm Training?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

My daughter and I practice firearm marksmanship once a week (10/25/50m pistol and 300m rifle). Is it OK if we intend to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, (Allah bless him and give him peace)?

Answer

Thank you for your question.

Intentions

Your firearms training is permissible and there are various intentions that you could make to the end of following the sunnah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

Strength

You can intend to be a strong believer, for the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), said, “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive for that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless. If anything befalls you, do not say, ‘if only I had done such and such’ rather say ‘Qaddara Allahu wa ma sha’a fa’ala (Allah has decreed and whatever he wills, He does).’ For (saying) ‘If opens (the door) to the deeds of Satan.’” [Ibn Majah]

Self-Defense

You can intend self-defense and train your daughter to protect herself.
Self-Defense

Marksmanship

You can intend marksmanship, as long as it is not toward a live creature. Ibn ‘Umar reported, “I happened to pass by some lads of the Quraish who had tied a bird at which they have been shooting arrows. Every arrow that they missed came into the possession of the owner of the bird. No sooner had they seen Ibn ‘Umar, they dispersed. Thereupon, Ibn ‘Umar said: ‘Who has done this? May Allah curse him who has done so. Verily, the Messenger of Allah, (Allah bless him and give him peace) has cursed anyone who makes a live thing the target (of one’s marksmanship).’” [Bukhari; Muslim].

Hunting

You can also intend to train with a firearm to hunt, as it is permissible to shoot an animal that you are hunting with a rifle in the Maliki school. [Keller, The Reliance of the Traveller]

See more details here:
Saying the Basmala and Eating Hunted Animals from the People of the Book
How to Hunt Animals in Islam?

Please see the following excellent series for more details on being a strong believer:
01- Introduction – The Strong Believer – Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.