Allah will certainly make a trial for you (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5: 94)

Prohibiting Hunting Game in the Sacred Area and During the State of Ihram

[`Ali bin Abi Talhah] Al-Walibi said that Ibn `Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said that Allah's statement,

Allah will certainly make a trial for you with something in (the matter of) the game that is well within reach of your hands and your lances,  refers to, "The weak and young game. Allah tests His servants with such game during their Ihram, that if they wish, they would be able to catch it with their hands. Allah has commanded them to avoid catching it.'' Mujahid said that,

well within reach of your hands refers to the young game and chicks, while

and your lances, refers to mature game. Muqatil bin Hayyan said that this Ayah was revealed during the `Umrah of Al-Hudaybiyyah, when wild game and birds were coming to the Muslim camping area, which they had never seen the likes of before. Allah prohibited them from hunting the game while in the state of Ihram,

that Allah may test who fears Him in the unseen. Therefore, Allah tests His servants with the game that comes near their camping area, for if they wish, they can catch it with their hands and spears in public and secret. This is how the obedience of those who obey Allah in public and secret becomes apparent and tested. In another Ayah, Allah said;

Verily! Those who fear their Lord in the unseen, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).(Surah Al-Mulk 67: 12)  Allah said next,

Then whoever transgresses thereafter after this warning and threat, according to As-Suddi, then,

for him there is a painful torment  for his defiance of Allah's command and what He has decreed.


Source: Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged)