وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُمَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: عُذِّبَتِ امْرَأَةٌ في هِرَّةٍ حَبَسَتْهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ، فَدَخَلَتْ فِيهَا النَّارَ، لا هِيَ أَطْعَمَتْهَا وَسَقَتْهَا، إذْ حَبَسَتْهاَ، وَلا هِيَ تَرَكَتْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الأرْضِ .      

Ibn Umar (r) said: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: A woman was punished in Hell-Fire because of a cat which she had locked up until it died. She did not give it to eat or to drink when it was confined, nor did she free it so that it might eat the vermin of the earth.

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AN IMAL RIGHTS

Muhammad (pbuh), the last prophet, who was sent as a mercy for all worlds, brought us regulations so that we are kind and compassionate to every creature or being. Islam respected the rights of animals in addition to the rights of humans in the area that in those days people – especially slaves and poor ones- were being sold as goods. Women had neither respect nor rights in society, in fact when a baby girl was born, she was buried alive. Those people who had power used to oppress the weak ones. Life was just as wild animals lived in the jungle. Then a man rose up and established a civilization in the desert, which was never seen in the history of the world and will never been seen until the end of time! The following words of the prophet (pbuh) show us what compassion and kindness Islam has for animals.

Abu Hurairah (r) reported: Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “While a man was walking on his way he became extremely thirsty. He found a well; he went down into it to drink water. Upon leaving it, he saw a dog which was panting out of thirst. His tongue was lolling out and he was eating moist earth from extreme thirst. The man thought to him: ‘This dog is extremely thirsty as I was.’ So he descended into the well, filled up his leather sock with water, and holding it in his teeth, climbed up and put out the thirst of the dog. Upon this, Allah, the Exalted, appreciated his action and forgave his sins.” The companions asked: “Shall we be rewarded for showing kindness to the animals also? Prophet’s answer was more comprehensive: “ You would be rewarded for showing kindness to every living creature.

In the narration of Al-Bukhari, the Prophet is reported to have said: Allah forgave him in appreciation of this act and admitted him to Jannah (paradise).

Another narration says: “Once a dog was going around a well and was about to die of thirst. A prostitute of Banu Israel happened to see it. So she took off her leather sock and lowered it into the well. She drew out some water and gave the dog a drink. She was forgiven on account of her action.

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Narrated Sahl bin ‘Amr known as Ibn Al-Hanzaliyyah; Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) happened to pass by a camel whose belly was sticking to its back (from hunger), whereupon he said, “Fear Allah in respect of these dumb (animals) that can not speak. Ride them while they are fit, and slaughter them and eat their meat when they are fit.

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Once the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) entered an orchid belonging to an Ansari and he saw a camel. When the camel saw him, it began to groan and its eyes shed tears! The Messenger of Allah approached it and patted it on the hump and the base of its head until it quieted down. Then he asked: “Who is the owner of this camel? To whom does it belong?” An Ansari youth stepped forward and said: “It is mine O Messenger of Allah!’ Thereupon the Prophet (SA) said: “Do you not fear Allah in respect of this beast which Allah has placed in your possession? This camel is complaining to me that you starve it and put it to toil.

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Harshness to animals is an unlawful act in the Islamic Shariah (law). As a result of these prophetic words, the companions -and the Islamic community after them- approached animals kindly and abstained strictly from harshness to animals. Because, they carried the fear of the following words in their hearts: “Do not load extra weight on the back of animals as they have no tongue (to express you their sufferings), by Him in whose hand my soul is, they will be able to speak out on the Day of Judgment and will ask from you their rights on that day”

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So, it was the usual practice of the Companions that whenever they halted at some place to take rest during their journey, they would first of all unload their animals to give them comfort and relaxation. Then they would perform their prayer as mentioned in the following Hadith:

Anas (r) narrated: When we encamped, we would not offer prayers until we had unloaded our beasts.

All these Hadith and many more alike are evidence that Islam is filled with compassion and kindness for every living thing whether it's an animal or human! We glorify the Owner of this religion, who is the Most Merciful, the Most Kind, as many times as the number of His creatures!..

Bukhari, Anbiya 54. Muslim, Salam 151, Birr 133.

Bukhari, Adab 27. Muslim, Salam 153

Bukhari, Enbiya 54. Muslim, Salam 155

Abu Dawud, Jihad 44

Abu Dawud, Jihad 44

Abu Dawud, jihad 44