HADITHS - BEING KIND TO ANIMALS
As part of our efforts at Snake Hunters to promote animal conservation, we have researched into the sayings or actions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in relation to the treatment of animals. Our hope is that the Muslim community of Australia will have a better integration into Australia through understanding of how to treat Australian native animals. The hadiths are sorted into the books they derive from and are copied without editing here on this article for you to read.
SUNAN AN-NISAI:
An- Nisai 4448: It was narrated from Ibn Abbas that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Do not take anything that has a soul as a target.” (Sahih).
Sunan An-Nisai 4451: It was narrated that ‘Amr bin Sharid said: “I heard Sharid say: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “Whoever kills a small bird for no reason, it will beseech Allah on the Day of Resurrection saying: O Lord, so and so killed me for no reason, and he did not kill me for any beneficial purpose.” (Hasan).
Hadith 4451 of Sunan An-Nisai is extremely important for it shows that a small bird killed for no reason will complain to Allah about your actions. As Muslims, you must understand that you have complete power and control over animals in this world. However in the Hereafter, the small animals will have power and control to testify against your mistreatment of it on the day of judgement.
SAHIH AL BUKHARI:
Sahih Al Bukhari Vol 7 Hadith 421: Narrated Anas: “The Prophet ﷺ has forbidden the shooting of tied or confined animals”.
This hadith shows that Muslims do not show any unnecessary cruelty to animals in any way.
Sahih Al Bukhari Vol 7 Hadith 423: “Narrated Sa’id Bin Jubair: While I was with Ibn Umar, we passed by a group of young men who had tied a hen and started shooting at it. When they saw Ibn Umar, they dispersed leaving it. On that Ibn Umar said: “Who has done this? The Prophet ﷺ cursed the one who did so.”
I ask anyone who reads the above hadith: Would you like to invoke the curse of Muhammad ﷺ because of your actions to animals?
Sahih Al Bukhari Vol 4 Hadith 689: “Narrated Abdullah Bin Umar, Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “A lady was punished because of a cat which she had imprisoned till it died. She entered the (Hell) Fire because of it; for she neither gave it food nor water as she had imprisoned it nor set it free to eat from the vermin of the earth”.
This hadith is of serious importance to Muslims. It clearly shows that as Muslims, we have responsibility over animals that are within our care. If we show animals cruelty, are negligent of them or hurt them, we will be punished for this. If our conduct results in an animal’s cruel death, we may face the hellfire.
Sahih Al Bukhari Vol 8 Chapter 27 Hadith 6009: Narrated Abu Hurairah: Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “While a man was walking on a road, he became very thirsty. Then he came across a well, got down into it, drank and then came out. Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. The man said to himself, ‘This dog is suffering from the same state of thirst as I did.’ So he went down the well and filled his show with water and held it in his mouth and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for that and forgave him.” The people asked, “Oh Allah’s messenger! IS there a reward for us in serving the animals?” He said: “(Yes) There is a reward for serving any animate (living being)”.
This hadith shows that kindness and mercy to Allah’s creation can warrant Allah being merciful to us. How otherwise can you expect the mercy of Allah if you are unkind to those that seek your mercy?
SUNAN IBN MAJAH:
Sunan Ibn Majah Book 27: Hadith 3170: It is narrated on the authority of Shaddan Ibn Aws that he said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “No doubt, Allah Almighty has decreed kindness in everything: so when you kill, you should be kind in killing; and when you slaughter, you should be kind in slaughtering, and let anyone of you make sharp his blade, and comfort your slaughtered animal (by slaying it swiftly in avoidance of pain and torment”.
The above hadith shows that Allah has decreed kindness in everything even the death of an animal. As such, if you need to be kind in slaughtering an animal, you must also be extremely kind when the animal is alive.
Sunan Ibn Majah Book 27: Hadith 3171: It is narrated on the authority of Abu Sa’id Al Khudri that he said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came upon a man who was dragging a sheep from its ear, thereupon he said to him; “leave its ear, and catch it by the side of its neck!”
This hadith shows Muhammad ﷺ specifically telling a man to handle an animal in a way that does not hurt it. When attending one of my animal displays or shows, be sure to handle the reptile or snake the way I show you how to do so.
Sunan Ibn Majah Book 27 Hadith 3172: It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered that the blades should be made sharp and hidden from the animals (that will be slaughtered), and he said in this context: “When anyone of you slaughters, let him kill it swiftly (as much as he can”.
Sunan Ibn Majah Book 27 Hadith 3185: It is narrated on the authority of Abu Said Al Khudri that he said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade to mutilate animals.”
SUNAN ABU DAWOOD:
Sunan Abu Dawood Volume V Hadith 5266: It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah that he said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: An ant bit one of the prophets, thereupon he ordered that the sect of ants should be burnt. Allah almighty revealed to him: “Is it because an ant has bitten you, you ruined one of the sects which (Allah has created and they) glorify (Allah Almighty)?”
This hadith shows that a prophet of Allah was reprimanded because of killing/harming animals even as small as an ant unnecessarily. It also demonstrates that ants too glorify Allah.
Sunan Abu Dawood Volume V Hadith 5268: It is narrated on the authority of Abdu Ar-Rahman Ibn Abdullah From his father that he said: We were on journey with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when we saw a small bird having two babies, which we picked up, thereupon the mother bird came and started spreading its wings. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and asked: “Who has aggrieved this by taking its babes? Restore its babes to it.” On the other hand, he saw a sect of ants which we burnt, thereupon he said: “Who has burnt this?” We said: “We have done” ON that he said: “It is not befitting for anyone to punish with the fire except the Lord of the fire.”
This hadith shows that we do not even mentally harm an animal in any way.
Sunan Abu Dawood Volume V Hadith 5270: It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah Ibn Mughaffal that he said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade the throwing with pebbles and said: “It never catches a game, nor does it injure the enemy: but it gouges out the eyes and breaks the teeth.
Sunan Abu Dawood Volume V Hadith 5269: It is narrated on the authority of Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn Uthman that a physician asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to use (the blood of) a frog in his medicine, thereupon the messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade him to kill it.
SAHIH MUSLIM
Sahih Muslim Hadith 2245: Abu Huraira reported The Prophet ﷺ said: “A prostitute saw a dog lolling around a well on a hot day and hanging his tongue from thirst. She drew some water for it in her show, so Allah forgave her.”
The above hadith is one of my favourites. It demonstrates that a woman who’s profession earned sins was forgiven for those sins because of mercy she demonstrated to animals.
CONCLUSION
I hope you can see from the above hadiths, that there is a significant importance in Islam that focuses on the welfare and kind treatment towards animals. If you have any questions relating to these topics, you're welcome to contact Snake Hunters on 0403 875 409
