God, the Creator of human beings and animals,
has made animals subservient to us.
We depend on animals for the food we eat and the milk we drink.
We bring animals into our homes for love and companionship.
We survive critical illness and live longer because of
biomedical research on animals.
We visit to zoos and aquariums to gain an appreciation
for the spectacular diversity of life on earth.
We benefit from specially trained dogs that detect drugs,
guide the blind, and assist the disabled.
God says in the Quran: And the cattle, He has created them for you.
You have in them warm clothing and (other) advantages,
and of them you eat. And therein is beauty for you,
when you drive them back (home) and when you
send them out (to pasture).
And they carry your heavy loads to regions which
you could not reach but with great distress to yourselves.
Surely your Lord is Compassionate, Merciful.
And (He made) horses and mules and asses that you might
ride upon them and as an ornament.
And He creates what you know not.
(Quran 16:5-8)
The mercy of Islam extends beyond human beings to all
living creations of God.
Islam prohibits cruelty to animals. Fourteen hundred years ago,
long before the modern animal rights movement began with the
publication of Peter Singers book, Animal Liberation,in 1975,
Islam required kindness to animals and cruelty to them a
sufficient reason for a person to be thrown into the Fire!
Once, the Prophet of Mercy spoke of Gods forgiveness due to the
humane treatment of animals.
He told his companions the story of a man who got thirsty on his way.
He found a well, climbed down inside it to the water, and quenched his thirst.
When he came out he saw a panting dog licking on mud out of extreme thirst.
The man thought to himself, The dog has become as thirsty as I was!
The man went down the well again and got some water for the dog.
God appreciated his good work and forgave him. The companions asked,
O Prophet of God, do we get rewarded on humane treatment of animals?
He said, There is a reward in (doing good to) every living being.[1]
On another occasion, Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him,
described Gods punishment of a woman who was sent to Hell because of a cat.
She kept her locked up, neither feeding her nor setting her free to feed herself.[2]
Islam laid down humane slaughtering regulations.
Islam insists that the manner of slaughter should be that
which is least painful to the animal.
Islam requires that the slaughtering instrument not be
sharpened in front of the animal.
Islam also prohibits the slaughtering of one animal in front of another.
Never, prior to Islam, had the world witnessed such concern for animals.
Humane Islamic treatment of animals can be summarized by the following points:
First, Islam requires that pets or farm animals be provided with
proper food,water, and a place to live.
Once the Prophet passed by an emaciated camel due to hunger, he said:
"Fear God in regards to these animals who can not speak their will.
If you ride them, treat them accordingly
(by making them strong and fit for that),
and if you [plan to] eat them, treat them accordingly
(by making them fat and healthy).
(Abu Dawud)
Second, an animal should not be beaten or tortured.
Once the Prophet of Mercy passed by an animal branded on his face.
He said, Has it not reached you that I have cursed the one who
brands an animals face or hits it on its face?[3]
The Prophet of Mercy advised his wife to treat an unruly camel
that she was riding kindly.[4]
Making animals fight one another for entertainment was
also forbidden by the Prophet.[5]
Third, Islam forbids using animals or birds for targets when practicing shooting.
When Ibn Umar, one of the companions of Prophet Muhammad saw
some people practicing archery using a hen as a target, he said:
The Prophet cursed anyone who made a living thing into a target
(for practice).
The Prophet Muhammad
also said:
Whoever kills a bird or anything else without its due right,
God would ask him about it. It was said: O Messenger of God!
What is its due right? He said: To kill it for food�and do not
sever its head, and throw it!� (Targheeb)
Shooting at live pigeons was once an Olympic event and
today dove shooting is allowed in many places.
Fourth, separating nestling birds from their
mothers is not allowed in Islam.
Fifth, it is forbidden to mutilate an animal by cutting off its ears,
tails or other body parts without just reason.
Sixth, a sick animal under ones care should be treated properly.
Through these rules and regulations legislated in regards to animals,
the Muslims gains the respect and understanding that other creatures
are not to be used and abused as one wills, but that they, like humans,
have rights which must be given in order to ensure that the justice and
mercy of Islam be met to all which inhabit this earth.
Footnotes:
[1] Saheeh Al-Bukhari
[2] Saheeh Al-Bukhari
[3] Abu Dawud, Sahih Muslim
[4] Sahih Muslim
[5] Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi
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