Can Muslims do target shooting?
Yes, Muslims can do target shooting, and many scholars see it as close to a sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ strongly encouraged archery, the shooting sport of his time. Shooting at paper targets or clay pigeons at a licensed range is lawful, as long as you follow the law, stay safe and never use living animals as targets.
The Prophet ﷺ loved shooting practice
Once the Prophet ﷺ passed some men competing in archery and said, "Shoot, children of Ismail, for your father was an archer" (Sahih al-Bukhari 2899). He also explained the Quranic command to prepare strength:
Reciting this verse, he said three times, "Indeed, power is shooting" (Sahih Muslim 1917). Classical scholars took this as encouragement to learn shooting skills, and many say modern firearms and air rifles fall under the same meaning. Archery remains a very popular sunnah sport among Muslims in the West. See Which sports did the Prophet Muhammad encourage?
Types of target shooting
- Archery: the classic sunnah sport; clubs exist in most towns.
- Air rifle and air pistol: an Olympic sport and a good starting point.
- Clay pigeon shooting: clay discs, not birds, so fine.
- Rifle and pistol at licensed ranges: allowed, as long as you hold the right licences and follow the law of your country.
Conditions to keep in mind
- No live targets: the Prophet ﷺ forbade tying up an animal or bird and using it as a target, and cursed those who did it. Hunting for food is a separate topic; see Can Muslims go hunting and fishing?
- Safety: never point a weapon at a person, even as a joke, and treat every gun as loaded.
- Obey the law: gun laws differ greatly between the UK, Europe and the USA. Following them is part of keeping your agreements as a citizen.
- Right intention: train for sport, skill and fitness, not to intimidate or show off.
- Competitions: prizes from organisers are fine, but pooled stakes are gambling.
A sport with a long Muslim history
Muslim armies and communities were famous for their archers, and horse archery is still practised today. Combining it with riding is a great way to revive two sunnahs at once. See Is horse riding sunnah?
- Target shooting is lawful and archery is a sunnah sport.
- The Prophet ﷺ said "power is shooting" (Sahih Muslim 1917).
- Never use living animals as targets.
- Follow your country's gun laws and safety rules.
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