Q: I went fishing recently and before catching any fish I did not have a clear intention whether I would catch and release the fish or eat it. When I had the fish already hooked on the line I was told that we should eat it by 1 person so I pulled it out and thought we were going to eat it. But then another person more knowledgeable told me to release it back into the ocean because the fish was a bottom feeder and would not be nice to eat. I then released the fish back into the ocean after it had already been hurt by the hook. I did not know that it is not good to catch and release before fishing. Did I commit a sin by catching and releasing that fish?
A: You should have given the fish to some poor person to eat if you didn't want it. Wounding it and then releasing it in this manner is not right. You should make istighfaar for this.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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