Hadith on Animals & Their Rights
Explore how Islam instituted profound animal welfare and rights centuries before the modern era.
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فِي كُلِّ كَبِدٍ رَطْبَةٍ أَجْرٌ
The Companions asked: "O Allah's Messenger! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?" He replied: "There is a reward for serving any living being."
SAHIH BUKHARI 2466
عُذِّبَتِ امْرَأَةٌ فِي هِرَّةٍ سَجَنَتْهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ فَدَخَلَتْ فِيهَا النَّارَ
"A woman entered the Fire because of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth."
SAHIH BUKHARI 3318
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ... وَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ
"Verily Allah has prescribed proficiency in all things... so if you slaughter, then slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters."
SAHIH MUSLIM 1955
لاَ تَتَّخِذُوا شَيْئًا فِيهِ الرُّوحُ غَرَضًا
"Do not treat any living creature as a target." (Referring to using animals for target practice in archery/shooting).
SAHIH MUSLIM 1957
مَنْ فَجَعَ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا رُدُّوا وَلَدَهَا إِلَيْهَا
During a journey, some companions took the chicks of a bird. The mother bird started flapping its wings in distress. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Who has distressed this bird by taking its young? Return them to her immediately."
SUNAN ABU DAWUD 2675
اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ فِي هَذِهِ الْبَهَائِمِ الْمُعْجَمَةِ فَارْكَبُوهَا صَالِحَةً وَكُلُوهَا صَالِحَةً
"Fear Allah with regard to these dumb animals. Ride them when they are fit to be ridden, and let them go free when they are meant to be let go free."
SUNAN ABU DAWUD 2548
Key Principles of Animal Rights
Prohibition of Cruelty
Islam absolutely forbids animal cruelty. It is forbidden to overwork pack animals, beat them, brand them on the face, make them fight for entertainment (e.g., cockfighting), or hunt them merely for sport.
Humane Slaughter (Zabiha)
When slaughtering for food, the knife must be extremely sharp so it is instantaneous. The animal must not see the knife being sharpened, and one animal must not be slaughtered in front of another.
Pets and Companionship
Keeping pets (like cats) is completely allowed, provided they are treated well, fed properly, and not caged cruelly. The companion Abu Hurairah was literally named "Father of the Kitten" because of his love for cats.
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