Animal Rights in Islam

Animal cruelty in Islam is forbidden, a sin. It is prohibited to hurt an animal for no reason or to mistreat it in Islam. The Quran clearly reveals the equality between humans and other creatures. The Quran says:

"And there is no creature on (or within) the earth or bird that flies with its wings except (that they are) communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered." (QS 6:38)

Our animal brethren are the miracle of Allah SWT. Thus, no animals should be injured or harmed unnecessarily. But most people, unfortunately, refuse to recognize the fact that humans and animals are equals.

Few people are prepared to grant animals their rights or to recognize that every being has an eternal soul, even dogs and swine. This is clearly an injustice to the animals. The Qurans says:

"We did not create the heavens and earth and that between them in play. We did not create them except in truth, but most of them do not know." (QS 44:38-39)

In the pre-Islamic era, dogs were an inseparable part of the Arabs. The negative instincts of dogs have crept into their lives. The prophet (pbuh) came to reform them and in order to achieve that, he had to separate them from the inseparable, that is the dogs.

The Prophet (pbuh) had to create a resentment of dogs in their hearts by emphasizing in strongest terms like killing. He also ordered to wash the utensils seven times from which a dog drank. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) ordered killing of the black dogs, and then said:

"What about other dogs? and then granted concession (to keep) the dog for hunting and the dog for (the security) of the herd, and said: When the dog licks the utensil, wash it seven times, and rub it with earth the eighth time." (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

- the black dog (al-kalb al-aswad al-bahim) means the dog that bites indiscriminately (al-kalb al-`aqur).

After the Companions understood the order and resented dogs, separated them from their daily activities, the Prophet (pbuh) said, 'I have no problem with dogs'. He granted leniency in washing the utensils from 7 times to 3 times. After all, using hunting dogs is permissible and dogs are mentioned in the Quran (QS 7:176, 18:18, 18:22).

There are other hadith that shows dogs were not killed during the time of the Prophet (pbuh). They used to see dogs urinating on the floor of the mosque and they just sprinkled water on the spot, they didn't go and kill the dog. (Sahih Bukhari: Volume 001, Book 004, Hadith Number 174)

There are hadith showing people quenched the thirst of a thirsty dog and they got rewarded for it. The Prophet (pbuh) even stressed that there was a reward for one who serves any living being, including animals. (Sahih Bukhari: Volume 001, Book 004, Hadith Number 174; Malik Muwatta: Book 49, Number 49.10.23)

Another hadith narrates that the Prophet ordered a dog to be kicked out and not killed. (Abu Dawud: Book 32, Number 4146). In Islam, a good deed done to an animal is like a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as cruelty to a human being.

Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah narrated that a group of Companions were once on a journey with the Prophet (pbuh), and he left them for a while. During his absence, they saw a bird with its two young, and they took the young ones from the nest.

The mother bird was circling above in the air, beating its wings in grief, when the Prophet came back. He said, "Who has hurt the feelings of this bird by taking its young? Return them to her." (Sahih Muslim)

In pre Islamic times, pagan superstitions and polytheistic practices included acts of torture and cruelty to animals. Islam condemned this and put a stop to all such practices. When Prophet Muhammad and his companions migrated to Medina, they noticed that people cut off camel humps and the fat tails of sheep for food.

The Prophet (pbuh) forbade them from them from doing this and said, “Whatever is cut off an animal while it is still alive, is carrion and is unlawful to eat.” (At-Tirmidhi)

In Islam, the rules pertaining to slaughtering animals are very strict and fixed. Protecting animals from pain and undue suffering is paramount.

“God has ordained kindness (and excellence) in everything. If the killing (of animals) is to be done, do it in the best manner, and when you slaughter, do it in the best manner by first sharpening the knife, and putting the animal at ease.” (Sahih Bukhari & Muslim)


Wallahu'alam