fiazfazili
Member
In the name of Allah, The Merciful, The All-merciful
Animal Rights and Islam- an open invitation to Non muslims to go through veses of Islamic holy book Quran and Bukhari (the book about sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him) who have misconception that muslima are cruel to animals);Stop Cruelty to Animals-by Following Islam;;Many non muslims are talking aboout animal rights since last few years but probably they does not know ,since the inception of islam more than 1420 years there were rights for animals;what islam recommends about animals ;Let me quote to these ignorant peple ,Some Hadiths( words and acts of Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him) and quranic verses about animal rights in islam;Thanks to some scholars & some authors who have talked about these at their web sites I collected it from them-May allah forgive me if inadvertantly i commit any sin;Dr Fiaz Fazili
Animal Rights and Islam
*** Animals and other living things were created by Allah, the Lord of the Universe.* They have their own independent existences and modes of living.* Quran(55:10) Allah, the Exalted has said in the Holy Qur'an that every animal has its own communal life and its own way to do 'Ibadah, or service, to Allah, the Exalted.* Every animal praises Allah, the Exalted, in its own way.*Quran (6:38) .* It is Allah, the Exalted who gave every animal its ability.* He enabled birds to fly, fish to swim and horses to gallop.* Animals were here on Earth long before humans.* The first man and woman on Earth were Adam and Hawwa.*Allah, the Exalted gave them the responsibility to be caretakers on Earth, or, as the term used in the Qur'an states, a Khalifa in the world. Humans, who have been created with a greater intellect than animals, have a special responsibility to be fair, just and kind to all other living things.* The Blessed Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said that every injustice will be paid back on the Day of Judgment, even if one goat hits another with its horns it will be taken account of.* Therefore, in our use of animals for our own survival we must do justice. Allah, the Exalted gave us the free use of the plants and animals of this Earth.* He said, "Eat and drink of the good things of the Earth."* He also said, "It is Allah, the Exalted Who has provided you livestock of every kind.* You can ride some kinds and others you eat..."Quran (40:79)* But we must balance our use of animals and plants with our primary role as a caretaker on the Earth. For example, we are not allowed to harm animals or plants for no reason.* The Blessed Prophet(may peace be upon him) forbade people from capturing baby birds, burning ant hills and whipping animals cruelly.* All the people he stopped from doing these things were doing them "for fun."* Well, as the Prophet(may peace be upon him) pointed out, it wasn't fun for the animals. If we use animals for our work, we must feed them and not over work them.* If we eat animals we are supposed to slaughter the animals according to Dhabiha rules which prevent all cruelty to animals and if we have them as pets we are to feed them and care for them.* The Prophet once told a story in which he noted that a woman who starved her pet cat to death will be tormented by that cat on Judgment Day by way of revenge. So as we can see, we have a responsibility to all living creatures around us and even though many non-Muslims assert that animals have no rights, Islam says otherwise.
The Prophet(may peace be upon him) on Humane Treatment of Animals
1. Allah, the Exalted 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.
(Muslim).
2. If someone kills a sparrow for sport, the sparrow will cry out on the Day of Judgment, "O Lord! That person killed me in vain! He did not kill me for any useful purpose."
(Nisai).
3. Any part cut off a living animal is dead flesh.*
(Unlawful to eat.* The implication is that it is not allowed to mutilate a living animal.)
(Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Hakim).
4. The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, "Whoever kills a sparrow or anything bigger than that without a just cause, Allah , the Exalted will hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment."* The listeners asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what is a just cause?" He replied, "That he will kill it to eat, not simply to chop off its head and then throw it away."
(Nisai, Hakim).
5. When you set your dog (for the chase), mention the name of Allah, if he catches the game, and you reach it while it is still alive, cut, its throat quickly (so it won't suffer)."
(Bukhari, Muslim).
6. If you send your dog after the game, and it eats part of it, you should not eat of it, for the dog has hunted for itself and not for you; but if you send the dog and it kills the game without eating it, you can eat it, as it has caught it for its master.
(Ahmad, Bukhari, Muslim).
Islam not only has laid down the rights for humans regardless of race, color, language and riches, but has also laid down the rights for animals. Animals, like humans are one of the creations of Allah(swt). Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) was not only sent as a mercy to Mankind but as a blessing to all creatures as the Quran testifies:*
We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures. – [Quran 21:107]*
It is encouraged for Muslim to let Animals eat of the plants that they have planted. Prophet Muhammad((may peace be upon him) is reported to have said:
Narated By Anas bin Malik: The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, "If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity." – [Bukhari Vol. 8, Book 73, #41] Even if an animal eats from a plant which has been planted by man, the person will receive rewards for it. Moreover, another hadith is as follows:*
Narated By Abu Huraira:* Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said, "While a man was walking on a road. he became very thirsty. Then he came across a well, got down into it, drank (of its water) 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 (again) and filled his shoe (with water) and held it in his mouth and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?" He said, "(Yes) There is a reward for serving any animate (living being)." – [Bukhari Vol. 8, Book 73, #38] & [Muslim Book 26, Chapter 39, # 5577]*
Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) taught people to be kind to animals. Allah, the Exalted rewarded the act of the person who quenched the thirst of a thirsty dog. While men were accustomed to be cruel to the animals, Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) by the command of Allah, the Exalted taught Mankind to be merciful and kind to all living things. Not only were humans given their rights, the animals too were given theirs. Islam is a religion which teaches man to be merciful towards all living things. Thus there is reward for a human even if he feeds an animal.*
Animals have many purposes and are used for such by humans. This does not mean that men have the right to treat animals the way that they want to. While people would hit their animals on the face, Islam forbids such an act. Every creation is very sensitive as far as the face is concerned. If I were to lightly tap a person on the shoulder or on the back, they would not feel offended but if I were to do the same on the face then everyone would find that offensive. Allah, the Exalted realizes this and thus through Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) such an act was strictly forbidden as seen by the hadith below:*
Narated By Salim: That Ibn 'Umar disliked the branding of animals on the face. Ibn 'Umar said, "The Prophet (may peace be upon him) forbade beating (animals) on the face." – [Bukhar Vol.7, Book 67, #449] & [Muslim Book 24, Chapter 21, #5281]*
During the times of ignorance (Ja’hillah) people would cut the limbs of animals while they were alive. This was a disgusting act and Islam was the religion that brought an end to this practice. Not only this but shooting at an animal who is tied was also forbidden by Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) .*
Narated By Ibn ‘Umar: The Prophet (may peace be upon him) cursed the one who did Muthla to an animal (i e., cut its limbs or some other part of its body while it is still alive). – [Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 67, #424]*
Narated By Hisham bin Zaid: Anas and I went to Al-Hakam bin Aiyub. Anas saw some boys shooting at a tied hen. Anas said, "The Prophet has forbidden the shooting of tied or confined animals." – [Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 67, #421; #422]*
While the animal rights were being laid down by Allah, the Exalted through Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) , the Prophet(may peace be upon him) also narrated an incident regarding a woman who imprisoned a cat and made it starve to death. *
Narated By 'Abdullah bin 'Umar : Allah's Apostle 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." – [Bukhari Vol.4, Book 56, #689]*
This hadith clearly suggests that being brutal towards animals is a grave sin and Allah, the Exalted will punish him who treats the animals without kindness. It is obligatory for the owner of the animal to feed it. Many rights have been given to animals and Muslims are required to obey these guidelines for transgression would make them sinful. While oppressing humans is wrong, Islam also teaches that oppression towards animals is wrong.*Islam gave animals rights at a time when animal rights were not recognized. Today the world is bringing awareness towards the rights of animals whereas Islam gave them their rights more than 1400 years ago. The most famous story about being kind to animals is seen when a cat came and slept on the robe of Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) while he was reading the Quran to the listeners. When it was time for the Prophet(may peace be upon him) to get up, instead of disturbing the cat, he cut that piece of the robe and stood up. Today who would cut of a piece of their cloth so that the cat’s sleep would be undisturbed?*
Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) encouraged people to be good towards the animals and forbade acts which are cruel. Oppression is an evil whether the one being oppressed is human or an animal. In Tirmidhi as well as Abu Dawood it is mentioned that Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) prohibited the act of inciting animals against each other. This act is practiced today as well where cocks and dogs are caused to fight with each other and people place their bets. Not only does this become a sin for it falls under the category of gambling but also because two animals are caused to fight against each other.*
There are people who claim that Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) ordered the killing of all dogs. If one were to read the references they give it is indeed true that such an order was given. However these people will never quote the hadith which explains why such an order was given. *
Ibn Mughaffal reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) ordered the killing of dogs and then said: what is the trouble with them (the people of Medina)? How dogs are nuisance to them (the citizens of Medina)? He then permitted keehing of dogs for hunting and (the protection of) herds. In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Yahya, he (the Holy Prophet) permitted the keeping of dogs for (the protection of) herds, for hunting and (the protection of) cultivated land. – [Muslim Book 10, Chapter 31, #3814]*
When one reads this hadith one gets to learn about the context of the order. The people of Medina complained that the dogs were being a nuisance to them. This is just like today where many countries have problems with street dogs. There have been many cases where these street dogs have bitten people and transmitted diseases like Rabies. Many have even died from this disease. Due to the complains by the people regarding these stray dogs, Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) ordered that such dogs who are hazardous to the people should be killed. Back in those days there were not any animal shelter facilities and thus this was the only way to safeguard the people. The hadith further on explains that all dogs were not to be killed and the permission to keep dogs was also given.*Moreover, Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) also instructed men not to overburden their domestic animals. Burdening a donkey with more load than that which he can easily carry is again a wrongful practice which was forbidden by Allaah the Exalted . Even while sacrificing the animals, it is told that we are to use sharp knives and not blunt ones for the latter would cause pain and discomfort to the animals. Some people have suggested that the Islamic method of slaughtering the animal is cruel and should be stopped. This however was proven to be untrue as the animal dies a painless death. A study was carried out at the School of Veterinary Medicine by Professor Wilhelm Schulze and Dr. Hazim to detect the pain an animal feels when he is slaughtered by the Islamic way. The EEG recorded showed that with the Islamic way, the animal felt no pain and it was observed that most of the blood was thrown out of the body thus making the meat more hygienic as opposed to the captive bolt pistol stunning method. The conventional method was also observed to be painful to the animal.*The earth has been made for all the creatures that inhabit it and thus they are given their due rights by Islam.*And the earth hath He appointed for (His) creatures. – [Quran 55:10]*Islam takes great care when laying down its rules and regulation and has made sure that men do not behave with cruelty towards them. Even in a state of war, the Muslims are prohibited from killing the animals in the lands of the enemies and are also prohibited to burning or cutting down trees for no reason. Indeed Islam is a mercy for everyone. It is not only a religion but a complete way of life which even secures the rights of animals.(REF Ebrahim Saifuddin)
Treatment of Animals: An Islamic Perspective;Cruelty to Animals: Excerpt from the book Animals in Islam, written by Al-Hafiz B.A. Masri;According to the teachings of Islam, causing unavoidable pain and suffering to the defenseless and innocent creatures of Almighty Allah is not justifiable under any circumstances. Islam wants us to think and act in the positive terms of accepting all species as communities like us in their own right and not to sit in judgement on them according to our human norms and values.Prevention of physical cruelty is not enough; mental cruelty is equally important. In the following incident, a bird's emotional distress has been treated as seriously as a physical injury:"We were on a journey with the Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), and he left us for a while. During his absence, we saw a bird called hummara with its two young and took the young ones. The mother bird was circling above us in the air, beating its wings in grief, when the Prophet(may peace be upon him/(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), came back and said: "Who has hurt the FEELINGS of this bird by taking its young? Return them to her." (Narrated by Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah bin Mas'ud- Muslim) .It is reported by the same authority that "A man once robbed some eggs from the nest of a bird. The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), had them restored to the nest" (id.).The Islamic concern about cruelty to animals is so great that it has declared the infliction of any unnecessary and avoidable pain "even to a sparrow or any creature smaller than that" as a sin for which the culprit would be answerable to the Almighty on the Day of Judgement.The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam),told his companions of a woman who would be sent to Jahannam(Hell) for having locked up a cat; not feeding it, nor even releasing it, so that it could feed itself. (Narrated by Abdullah bin 'Umar. Bukhari).Islam's concern for animals goes beyond the prevention of physical cruelty or even condescending kindness to them, which is a negative proposition. It enjoins on the human species, to take over the responsibility of all creatures in the spirit of a positive philosophy of life and to be their active protectors.The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam),was asked if acts of charity even to the animals were rewarded by the Almighty. He replied: "Yes, there is a reward for acts of charity to every beast alive." (Narrated by Abu Huraira, Bukhari)
Mishkat Al-Masabih concluded from "Bukhari" and "Muslim" to the effect that: "A good deed done to a beast is as good as doing good to a human being; while an act of cruelty to a beast is as bad as an act of cruelty to human beings," and that: "Kindness to animals was promised by rewards in Life Hereafter" (Mishkat al-Masabih; Book 6; Chapter 7, 8:178).During the pre-Islamic period, certain pagan superstitions and polytheistic practices involving acts of torture and general cruelties to animals used to be common in Arabia. All such practices were condemned and stopped by Islam. The following few sayings of the Holy Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), will serve as an example: Hazrat Jabir(R.A.) has reported that Allah's Messenger(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), forbade striking the face or branding on the face of animals.…The same companion of the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam),reported him as saying, when an ass which had been branded in its face passed him by, He(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said : "Allah curse the one who branded it." (Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah- Muslim). This Hadith is concerned with causing pain to the animal on the sensitive parts of its body, as well as with the disfigurement of its appearance.When the Holy Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam),migrated to Madinah from Makkah, people there used to cut off camels' humps and the fat tails of sheep. The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), ordered this barbaric practice to be stopped. The temptation for the people to perform this sort of vivisection on the animals was that the juicy humps and fatty tails could be eaten while the animal remained alive for future use. To remove this avidity, he declared: "Whatever is cut off an animal while it is still alive, is carrion and is unlawful (Haram) to eat." (Narrated by Abu Waqid al-Laithi. Tirmidhi; Hadith No. 1480, Chapt. On Al-At'imah) .To make sure that no injury was inflicted on the animal while there was even a flicker of life in it, it was forbidden by the Holy Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), to molest the carcass in any way, such as: by breaking its neck, skinning, or slicing off any of its parts, until the body is dead cold. Many Muslim authorities have also given juristic opinions (fatawa) to the effect that, after slaughter, time should be given for the rigor mortis to set in before cutting up the carcass.Not only physical but also emotional care of animals was so much emphasized by the Holy Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam),that he once reprimanded his wife, Hazrat A'ishah(May Allaah be pleased with her) for treating a camel a bit offhandedly. Hazrat A'ishah (May Allaah be pleased with her) the wife of The Prophet(may peace be upon him) herself narrates: "I was riding a restive camel and turned it rather roughly. The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam),said to me: 'It behooves you to treat the animals gently.' (Narrated by A'ishah (May Allaah be pleased with her). Muslim, Vol. 4, Hadith No. 2593).
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Allah , the Exalted gave us the free use of the plants and animals of this Earth. He said, "Eat and drink of the good things of the Earth." He also said, "It is Allah , the Exalted Who has provided you livestock of every kind. You can ride some kinds and others you eat..." (Qur'an 40:79) But we must balance our use of animals and plants with our primary role as a caretaker on the Earth. For example, we are not allowed to harm animals or plants for no reason. The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) forbade people from capturing baby birds, burning ant hills and whipping animals cruelly. All the people he stopped from doing these things were doing them "for fun." Well, as the Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) pointed out, it wasn't fun for the animals.
If we use animals for our work, we must feed them and not over work them. If we eat animals we are supposed to slaughter the animals according to Dhabiha rules which prevent all cruelty to animals and if we have them as pets we are to feed them and care for them.SOME AHAADEETH ON TREATMENT OF ANIMALS:The Prophet (may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) not only preached to the people to show kindness to one another but also to all living creatures. He forbade the practice of cutting tails and manes of horses, of branding animals at any soft spot, and of keeping horses saddled unnecessarily. (Sahih Muslim) .If the Prophet (may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) saw any animal over-burdened or ill-fed he would pull up alongside the owner and say, "Fear Allah in your treatment of animals." (Abu Dawud, Kitab Jihad) .A companion to the Prophet (may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) came to him carrying baby chicks in his clothing and mentioned that the mother bird had hovered over them all along. He was directed to return the chicks back to the same bush. (Mishkat, Abu Dawud) .During a journey, someone travelling with the Prophet (may peace be upon him/(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), gathered some birds eggs from a nest. The mother bird's painful cries and commotion attracted the attention of the Prophet (may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) ,who asked the man to return the eggs to the nest. (Bukhari)."Allah , the Exalted 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." (Muslim) ." If someone kills a sparrow for sport, the sparrow will cry out on the Day of Judgment, "O Lord! That person killed me in vain! He did not kill me for any useful purpose." (Nisai) ."Any part cut off a living animal is dead flesh." (ie. Unlawful to eat. The implication is that it is not allowed to mutilate a living animal.) (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Hakim) .The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said, "Whoever kills a sparrow or anything bigger than that without a just cause, Allah will hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment." The listeners asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what is a just cause?" He replied, "That he will kill it to eat, not simply to chop off its head and then throw it away." (Nisai, Hakim) .When you set your dog (for the chase), mention the name of Allah, if he catches the game, and you reach it while it is still alive, cut, its throat quickly (so it won't suffer)." (Bukhari, Muslim) .Narrated Sa'd bin Jubair(May Allaah be pleased with him/R.A.): While I was with Ibn Umar(R.A.), We passed by a group of youngmen who had tied a hen and started shooting at it. When they saw Ibn UmarMay Allaah be pleased with him/R.A.), they dispersed, leaving it. On that Ibn Umar May Allaah be pleased with him /R.A.) said, "Who has done this ? " The Prophet (may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) cursed the one who did so. " (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No.423, Vol. 7) ref;www.everymuslim.com
Islam Teaches the Love of Animals;. Mistreating animals is considered a major sin in Islam, as explained in the famous Book of Major Sins by Imaam Muhammad bin ‘Abdul Wahhaab . Certainly, a Muslim is responsible for the treatment of animals, because an ill-treated animal will testify against the one who abused it on the Day of Judgment. Islam forbids branding animals and killing them in vain, such as for sport. The Prophet (may peace be upon him) , forbade people from capturing birds, burning anthills and whipping animals. Even when slaughtering animals for food, Islam requires that the slaughtering be done according to approved Islamic procedures, which are humane and reduce suffering. As Allaah’s representatives on earth, human beings have a responsibility towards every living creature.*
Cats in Islam
The Messenger of Allaah , taught Muslims to have mercy for all of Allaah's creation. There are many reports of his love for cats, resulting in their historical acceptance among Muslims. Cats were very common amongst the people during the time of the Prophet (may peace be upon him) , and he said: "They (cats) are not impure and they intermingle with you." The cat is such a clean animal that according to authentic narrations one may make ablution for prayer with the same water that a cat drank from. Yet, it is known that some people nowadays have opposed the traditions of the Prophet , by taking up the evil practices of torturing and poisoning cats. Do they think that Allaah, the Exalted will not punish them for this? Certainly Allaah's punishment for such acts is severe, if we bear in mind the Hadeeth of Allaah's Messenger , as reported by Al-Bukhaari Allah's Apostle 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."Sahih al bukahri vol4 no689
Dogs in Islam
*There is hardly a domestic animal more ill-treated these days than dogs.* The Messenger of Allaah , said: "Purifying a container that a dog has licked (in order for humans to use it) is done by washing it seven times, the first washing being with dirt.” [Muslim]. A Muslim should not keep a dog inside his home since the Prophet (may peace be upon him) , has informed us that angels do not enter into a house where there is a dog [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]. Does this mean that dogs are to be despised or mistreated? Certainly not. Just because one does not keep a dog inside his home and doesn’t drink after it, doesn't give him the right to neglect it, mistreat it or kill it. The usefulness of this creature of Allaah is indisputable. No other animal can compete with it in its loyalty to its caregiver, its abilities as a guard and its talent for hunting.*In fact, in the chapter “The Cave”, the Quran reveals the story of some youths who had faith and trust in Allaah, who took refuge in a cave from the persecution and violence of the unbelievers of their day. That these righteous people had a dog with them, and the fact that Allaah mentions the dog and counts the dog among them, indicates that dogs are permitted to live among people.*The Quran says (what means): "And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his two forelegs at the entrance (of the cave as a guard)..." [Quran 18:18] Thus, dogs may be used for guards as well as for hunting as the Noble Quran also states (what means): "They ask you, (O Muhammad), what has been made lawful for them. Say: ‘Lawful for you are (all) good foods and (game caught by) what you have trained of hunting, animals which you train as Allaah , the Exalted has taught you. So eat of what they catch for you, and mention the name of Allaah upon it, and fear Allaah.’ Indeed Allaah is swift in account." [Quran 5:4]**In two separate narrations by Abu Hurayrah the Prophet (may peace be upon him) , told his companions of the virtue of saving the life of a dog by giving it water and quenching its thirst. Allah's Apostle said, "While a man was walking he felt thirsty and went down a well and drank water from it. On coming out of it, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of excessive thirst. The man said, 'This (dog) is suffering from the same problem as that of mine. So he (went down the well), filled his shoe with water, caught hold of it with his teeth and climbed up and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for his (good) deed and forgave him." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Is there a reward for us in serving (the) animals?" He replied, "Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate." Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith;3.551The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, "While a dog was going round a well and was about to die of thirst, an Israeli prostitute saw it and took off her shoe and watered it. So Allah , the Exalted forgave her because of that good deed. Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith; 4.673.Let us reflect upon this and beware of our duty towards Allaah's creatures, which He has put on earth for our use and not for our abuse. When the Prophet (may peace be upon him) , replied: "Yes, there is a reward for acts of charity to every beast alive." Let us fear Allaah , the Exalted with regard to His creatures, lest we earn His Wrath. Let us go forth in support and love for animals, knowing that Allaah, The Most High, considers such a deed done for His Sake as being worthy of the reward of Paradise. (Ref;www. Islamweb.net)
Allahumma ijal leesanee ‘amiran bi thikrika wa qalbi bi khashyatika.
O Allah! Make my tongue full of Your remembrance, and my heart with consciousness of You
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Animal Rights and Islam- an open invitation to Non muslims to go through veses of Islamic holy book Quran and Bukhari (the book about sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him) who have misconception that muslima are cruel to animals);Stop Cruelty to Animals-by Following Islam;;Many non muslims are talking aboout animal rights since last few years but probably they does not know ,since the inception of islam more than 1420 years there were rights for animals;what islam recommends about animals ;Let me quote to these ignorant peple ,Some Hadiths( words and acts of Prophet Muhammed (may peace be upon him) and quranic verses about animal rights in islam;Thanks to some scholars & some authors who have talked about these at their web sites I collected it from them-May allah forgive me if inadvertantly i commit any sin;Dr Fiaz Fazili
Animal Rights and Islam
*** Animals and other living things were created by Allah, the Lord of the Universe.* They have their own independent existences and modes of living.* Quran(55:10) Allah, the Exalted has said in the Holy Qur'an that every animal has its own communal life and its own way to do 'Ibadah, or service, to Allah, the Exalted.* Every animal praises Allah, the Exalted, in its own way.*Quran (6:38) .* It is Allah, the Exalted who gave every animal its ability.* He enabled birds to fly, fish to swim and horses to gallop.* Animals were here on Earth long before humans.* The first man and woman on Earth were Adam and Hawwa.*Allah, the Exalted gave them the responsibility to be caretakers on Earth, or, as the term used in the Qur'an states, a Khalifa in the world. Humans, who have been created with a greater intellect than animals, have a special responsibility to be fair, just and kind to all other living things.* The Blessed Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said that every injustice will be paid back on the Day of Judgment, even if one goat hits another with its horns it will be taken account of.* Therefore, in our use of animals for our own survival we must do justice. Allah, the Exalted gave us the free use of the plants and animals of this Earth.* He said, "Eat and drink of the good things of the Earth."* He also said, "It is Allah, the Exalted Who has provided you livestock of every kind.* You can ride some kinds and others you eat..."Quran (40:79)* But we must balance our use of animals and plants with our primary role as a caretaker on the Earth. For example, we are not allowed to harm animals or plants for no reason.* The Blessed Prophet(may peace be upon him) forbade people from capturing baby birds, burning ant hills and whipping animals cruelly.* All the people he stopped from doing these things were doing them "for fun."* Well, as the Prophet(may peace be upon him) pointed out, it wasn't fun for the animals. If we use animals for our work, we must feed them and not over work them.* If we eat animals we are supposed to slaughter the animals according to Dhabiha rules which prevent all cruelty to animals and if we have them as pets we are to feed them and care for them.* The Prophet once told a story in which he noted that a woman who starved her pet cat to death will be tormented by that cat on Judgment Day by way of revenge. So as we can see, we have a responsibility to all living creatures around us and even though many non-Muslims assert that animals have no rights, Islam says otherwise.
The Prophet(may peace be upon him) on Humane Treatment of Animals
1. Allah, the Exalted 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.
(Muslim).
2. If someone kills a sparrow for sport, the sparrow will cry out on the Day of Judgment, "O Lord! That person killed me in vain! He did not kill me for any useful purpose."
(Nisai).
3. Any part cut off a living animal is dead flesh.*
(Unlawful to eat.* The implication is that it is not allowed to mutilate a living animal.)
(Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Hakim).
4. The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, "Whoever kills a sparrow or anything bigger than that without a just cause, Allah , the Exalted will hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment."* The listeners asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what is a just cause?" He replied, "That he will kill it to eat, not simply to chop off its head and then throw it away."
(Nisai, Hakim).
5. When you set your dog (for the chase), mention the name of Allah, if he catches the game, and you reach it while it is still alive, cut, its throat quickly (so it won't suffer)."
(Bukhari, Muslim).
6. If you send your dog after the game, and it eats part of it, you should not eat of it, for the dog has hunted for itself and not for you; but if you send the dog and it kills the game without eating it, you can eat it, as it has caught it for its master.
(Ahmad, Bukhari, Muslim).
Islam not only has laid down the rights for humans regardless of race, color, language and riches, but has also laid down the rights for animals. Animals, like humans are one of the creations of Allah(swt). Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) was not only sent as a mercy to Mankind but as a blessing to all creatures as the Quran testifies:*
We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures. – [Quran 21:107]*
It is encouraged for Muslim to let Animals eat of the plants that they have planted. Prophet Muhammad((may peace be upon him) is reported to have said:
Narated By Anas bin Malik: The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, "If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity." – [Bukhari Vol. 8, Book 73, #41] Even if an animal eats from a plant which has been planted by man, the person will receive rewards for it. Moreover, another hadith is as follows:*
Narated By Abu Huraira:* Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said, "While a man was walking on a road. he became very thirsty. Then he came across a well, got down into it, drank (of its water) 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 (again) and filled his shoe (with water) and held it in his mouth and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?" He said, "(Yes) There is a reward for serving any animate (living being)." – [Bukhari Vol. 8, Book 73, #38] & [Muslim Book 26, Chapter 39, # 5577]*
Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) taught people to be kind to animals. Allah, the Exalted rewarded the act of the person who quenched the thirst of a thirsty dog. While men were accustomed to be cruel to the animals, Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) by the command of Allah, the Exalted taught Mankind to be merciful and kind to all living things. Not only were humans given their rights, the animals too were given theirs. Islam is a religion which teaches man to be merciful towards all living things. Thus there is reward for a human even if he feeds an animal.*
Animals have many purposes and are used for such by humans. This does not mean that men have the right to treat animals the way that they want to. While people would hit their animals on the face, Islam forbids such an act. Every creation is very sensitive as far as the face is concerned. If I were to lightly tap a person on the shoulder or on the back, they would not feel offended but if I were to do the same on the face then everyone would find that offensive. Allah, the Exalted realizes this and thus through Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) such an act was strictly forbidden as seen by the hadith below:*
Narated By Salim: That Ibn 'Umar disliked the branding of animals on the face. Ibn 'Umar said, "The Prophet (may peace be upon him) forbade beating (animals) on the face." – [Bukhar Vol.7, Book 67, #449] & [Muslim Book 24, Chapter 21, #5281]*
During the times of ignorance (Ja’hillah) people would cut the limbs of animals while they were alive. This was a disgusting act and Islam was the religion that brought an end to this practice. Not only this but shooting at an animal who is tied was also forbidden by Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) .*
Narated By Ibn ‘Umar: The Prophet (may peace be upon him) cursed the one who did Muthla to an animal (i e., cut its limbs or some other part of its body while it is still alive). – [Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 67, #424]*
Narated By Hisham bin Zaid: Anas and I went to Al-Hakam bin Aiyub. Anas saw some boys shooting at a tied hen. Anas said, "The Prophet has forbidden the shooting of tied or confined animals." – [Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 67, #421; #422]*
While the animal rights were being laid down by Allah, the Exalted through Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) , the Prophet(may peace be upon him) also narrated an incident regarding a woman who imprisoned a cat and made it starve to death. *
Narated By 'Abdullah bin 'Umar : Allah's Apostle 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." – [Bukhari Vol.4, Book 56, #689]*
This hadith clearly suggests that being brutal towards animals is a grave sin and Allah, the Exalted will punish him who treats the animals without kindness. It is obligatory for the owner of the animal to feed it. Many rights have been given to animals and Muslims are required to obey these guidelines for transgression would make them sinful. While oppressing humans is wrong, Islam also teaches that oppression towards animals is wrong.*Islam gave animals rights at a time when animal rights were not recognized. Today the world is bringing awareness towards the rights of animals whereas Islam gave them their rights more than 1400 years ago. The most famous story about being kind to animals is seen when a cat came and slept on the robe of Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) while he was reading the Quran to the listeners. When it was time for the Prophet(may peace be upon him) to get up, instead of disturbing the cat, he cut that piece of the robe and stood up. Today who would cut of a piece of their cloth so that the cat’s sleep would be undisturbed?*
Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) encouraged people to be good towards the animals and forbade acts which are cruel. Oppression is an evil whether the one being oppressed is human or an animal. In Tirmidhi as well as Abu Dawood it is mentioned that Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) prohibited the act of inciting animals against each other. This act is practiced today as well where cocks and dogs are caused to fight with each other and people place their bets. Not only does this become a sin for it falls under the category of gambling but also because two animals are caused to fight against each other.*
There are people who claim that Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) ordered the killing of all dogs. If one were to read the references they give it is indeed true that such an order was given. However these people will never quote the hadith which explains why such an order was given. *
Ibn Mughaffal reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) ordered the killing of dogs and then said: what is the trouble with them (the people of Medina)? How dogs are nuisance to them (the citizens of Medina)? He then permitted keehing of dogs for hunting and (the protection of) herds. In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Yahya, he (the Holy Prophet) permitted the keeping of dogs for (the protection of) herds, for hunting and (the protection of) cultivated land. – [Muslim Book 10, Chapter 31, #3814]*
When one reads this hadith one gets to learn about the context of the order. The people of Medina complained that the dogs were being a nuisance to them. This is just like today where many countries have problems with street dogs. There have been many cases where these street dogs have bitten people and transmitted diseases like Rabies. Many have even died from this disease. Due to the complains by the people regarding these stray dogs, Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) ordered that such dogs who are hazardous to the people should be killed. Back in those days there were not any animal shelter facilities and thus this was the only way to safeguard the people. The hadith further on explains that all dogs were not to be killed and the permission to keep dogs was also given.*Moreover, Prophet Muhammad(may peace be upon him) also instructed men not to overburden their domestic animals. Burdening a donkey with more load than that which he can easily carry is again a wrongful practice which was forbidden by Allaah the Exalted . Even while sacrificing the animals, it is told that we are to use sharp knives and not blunt ones for the latter would cause pain and discomfort to the animals. Some people have suggested that the Islamic method of slaughtering the animal is cruel and should be stopped. This however was proven to be untrue as the animal dies a painless death. A study was carried out at the School of Veterinary Medicine by Professor Wilhelm Schulze and Dr. Hazim to detect the pain an animal feels when he is slaughtered by the Islamic way. The EEG recorded showed that with the Islamic way, the animal felt no pain and it was observed that most of the blood was thrown out of the body thus making the meat more hygienic as opposed to the captive bolt pistol stunning method. The conventional method was also observed to be painful to the animal.*The earth has been made for all the creatures that inhabit it and thus they are given their due rights by Islam.*And the earth hath He appointed for (His) creatures. – [Quran 55:10]*Islam takes great care when laying down its rules and regulation and has made sure that men do not behave with cruelty towards them. Even in a state of war, the Muslims are prohibited from killing the animals in the lands of the enemies and are also prohibited to burning or cutting down trees for no reason. Indeed Islam is a mercy for everyone. It is not only a religion but a complete way of life which even secures the rights of animals.(REF Ebrahim Saifuddin)
Treatment of Animals: An Islamic Perspective;Cruelty to Animals: Excerpt from the book Animals in Islam, written by Al-Hafiz B.A. Masri;According to the teachings of Islam, causing unavoidable pain and suffering to the defenseless and innocent creatures of Almighty Allah is not justifiable under any circumstances. Islam wants us to think and act in the positive terms of accepting all species as communities like us in their own right and not to sit in judgement on them according to our human norms and values.Prevention of physical cruelty is not enough; mental cruelty is equally important. In the following incident, a bird's emotional distress has been treated as seriously as a physical injury:"We were on a journey with the Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), and he left us for a while. During his absence, we saw a bird called hummara with its two young and took the young ones. The mother bird was circling above us in the air, beating its wings in grief, when the Prophet(may peace be upon him/(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), came back and said: "Who has hurt the FEELINGS of this bird by taking its young? Return them to her." (Narrated by Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah bin Mas'ud- Muslim) .It is reported by the same authority that "A man once robbed some eggs from the nest of a bird. The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), had them restored to the nest" (id.).The Islamic concern about cruelty to animals is so great that it has declared the infliction of any unnecessary and avoidable pain "even to a sparrow or any creature smaller than that" as a sin for which the culprit would be answerable to the Almighty on the Day of Judgement.The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam),told his companions of a woman who would be sent to Jahannam(Hell) for having locked up a cat; not feeding it, nor even releasing it, so that it could feed itself. (Narrated by Abdullah bin 'Umar. Bukhari).Islam's concern for animals goes beyond the prevention of physical cruelty or even condescending kindness to them, which is a negative proposition. It enjoins on the human species, to take over the responsibility of all creatures in the spirit of a positive philosophy of life and to be their active protectors.The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam),was asked if acts of charity even to the animals were rewarded by the Almighty. He replied: "Yes, there is a reward for acts of charity to every beast alive." (Narrated by Abu Huraira, Bukhari)
Mishkat Al-Masabih concluded from "Bukhari" and "Muslim" to the effect that: "A good deed done to a beast is as good as doing good to a human being; while an act of cruelty to a beast is as bad as an act of cruelty to human beings," and that: "Kindness to animals was promised by rewards in Life Hereafter" (Mishkat al-Masabih; Book 6; Chapter 7, 8:178).During the pre-Islamic period, certain pagan superstitions and polytheistic practices involving acts of torture and general cruelties to animals used to be common in Arabia. All such practices were condemned and stopped by Islam. The following few sayings of the Holy Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), will serve as an example: Hazrat Jabir(R.A.) has reported that Allah's Messenger(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), forbade striking the face or branding on the face of animals.…The same companion of the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam),reported him as saying, when an ass which had been branded in its face passed him by, He(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said : "Allah curse the one who branded it." (Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah- Muslim). This Hadith is concerned with causing pain to the animal on the sensitive parts of its body, as well as with the disfigurement of its appearance.When the Holy Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam),migrated to Madinah from Makkah, people there used to cut off camels' humps and the fat tails of sheep. The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), ordered this barbaric practice to be stopped. The temptation for the people to perform this sort of vivisection on the animals was that the juicy humps and fatty tails could be eaten while the animal remained alive for future use. To remove this avidity, he declared: "Whatever is cut off an animal while it is still alive, is carrion and is unlawful (Haram) to eat." (Narrated by Abu Waqid al-Laithi. Tirmidhi; Hadith No. 1480, Chapt. On Al-At'imah) .To make sure that no injury was inflicted on the animal while there was even a flicker of life in it, it was forbidden by the Holy Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), to molest the carcass in any way, such as: by breaking its neck, skinning, or slicing off any of its parts, until the body is dead cold. Many Muslim authorities have also given juristic opinions (fatawa) to the effect that, after slaughter, time should be given for the rigor mortis to set in before cutting up the carcass.Not only physical but also emotional care of animals was so much emphasized by the Holy Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam),that he once reprimanded his wife, Hazrat A'ishah(May Allaah be pleased with her) for treating a camel a bit offhandedly. Hazrat A'ishah (May Allaah be pleased with her) the wife of The Prophet(may peace be upon him) herself narrates: "I was riding a restive camel and turned it rather roughly. The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam),said to me: 'It behooves you to treat the animals gently.' (Narrated by A'ishah (May Allaah be pleased with her). Muslim, Vol. 4, Hadith No. 2593).
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Allah , the Exalted gave us the free use of the plants and animals of this Earth. He said, "Eat and drink of the good things of the Earth." He also said, "It is Allah , the Exalted Who has provided you livestock of every kind. You can ride some kinds and others you eat..." (Qur'an 40:79) But we must balance our use of animals and plants with our primary role as a caretaker on the Earth. For example, we are not allowed to harm animals or plants for no reason. The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) forbade people from capturing baby birds, burning ant hills and whipping animals cruelly. All the people he stopped from doing these things were doing them "for fun." Well, as the Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) pointed out, it wasn't fun for the animals.
If we use animals for our work, we must feed them and not over work them. If we eat animals we are supposed to slaughter the animals according to Dhabiha rules which prevent all cruelty to animals and if we have them as pets we are to feed them and care for them.SOME AHAADEETH ON TREATMENT OF ANIMALS:The Prophet (may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) not only preached to the people to show kindness to one another but also to all living creatures. He forbade the practice of cutting tails and manes of horses, of branding animals at any soft spot, and of keeping horses saddled unnecessarily. (Sahih Muslim) .If the Prophet (may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) saw any animal over-burdened or ill-fed he would pull up alongside the owner and say, "Fear Allah in your treatment of animals." (Abu Dawud, Kitab Jihad) .A companion to the Prophet (may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) came to him carrying baby chicks in his clothing and mentioned that the mother bird had hovered over them all along. He was directed to return the chicks back to the same bush. (Mishkat, Abu Dawud) .During a journey, someone travelling with the Prophet (may peace be upon him/(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), gathered some birds eggs from a nest. The mother bird's painful cries and commotion attracted the attention of the Prophet (may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) ,who asked the man to return the eggs to the nest. (Bukhari)."Allah , the Exalted 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." (Muslim) ." If someone kills a sparrow for sport, the sparrow will cry out on the Day of Judgment, "O Lord! That person killed me in vain! He did not kill me for any useful purpose." (Nisai) ."Any part cut off a living animal is dead flesh." (ie. Unlawful to eat. The implication is that it is not allowed to mutilate a living animal.) (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Hakim) .The Prophet(may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said, "Whoever kills a sparrow or anything bigger than that without a just cause, Allah will hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment." The listeners asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what is a just cause?" He replied, "That he will kill it to eat, not simply to chop off its head and then throw it away." (Nisai, Hakim) .When you set your dog (for the chase), mention the name of Allah, if he catches the game, and you reach it while it is still alive, cut, its throat quickly (so it won't suffer)." (Bukhari, Muslim) .Narrated Sa'd bin Jubair(May Allaah be pleased with him/R.A.): While I was with Ibn Umar(R.A.), We passed by a group of youngmen who had tied a hen and started shooting at it. When they saw Ibn UmarMay Allaah be pleased with him/R.A.), they dispersed, leaving it. On that Ibn Umar May Allaah be pleased with him /R.A.) said, "Who has done this ? " The Prophet (may peace be upon him/sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) cursed the one who did so. " (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No.423, Vol. 7) ref;www.everymuslim.com
Islam Teaches the Love of Animals;. Mistreating animals is considered a major sin in Islam, as explained in the famous Book of Major Sins by Imaam Muhammad bin ‘Abdul Wahhaab . Certainly, a Muslim is responsible for the treatment of animals, because an ill-treated animal will testify against the one who abused it on the Day of Judgment. Islam forbids branding animals and killing them in vain, such as for sport. The Prophet (may peace be upon him) , forbade people from capturing birds, burning anthills and whipping animals. Even when slaughtering animals for food, Islam requires that the slaughtering be done according to approved Islamic procedures, which are humane and reduce suffering. As Allaah’s representatives on earth, human beings have a responsibility towards every living creature.*
Cats in Islam
The Messenger of Allaah , taught Muslims to have mercy for all of Allaah's creation. There are many reports of his love for cats, resulting in their historical acceptance among Muslims. Cats were very common amongst the people during the time of the Prophet (may peace be upon him) , and he said: "They (cats) are not impure and they intermingle with you." The cat is such a clean animal that according to authentic narrations one may make ablution for prayer with the same water that a cat drank from. Yet, it is known that some people nowadays have opposed the traditions of the Prophet , by taking up the evil practices of torturing and poisoning cats. Do they think that Allaah, the Exalted will not punish them for this? Certainly Allaah's punishment for such acts is severe, if we bear in mind the Hadeeth of Allaah's Messenger , as reported by Al-Bukhaari Allah's Apostle 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."Sahih al bukahri vol4 no689
Dogs in Islam
*There is hardly a domestic animal more ill-treated these days than dogs.* The Messenger of Allaah , said: "Purifying a container that a dog has licked (in order for humans to use it) is done by washing it seven times, the first washing being with dirt.” [Muslim]. A Muslim should not keep a dog inside his home since the Prophet (may peace be upon him) , has informed us that angels do not enter into a house where there is a dog [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]. Does this mean that dogs are to be despised or mistreated? Certainly not. Just because one does not keep a dog inside his home and doesn’t drink after it, doesn't give him the right to neglect it, mistreat it or kill it. The usefulness of this creature of Allaah is indisputable. No other animal can compete with it in its loyalty to its caregiver, its abilities as a guard and its talent for hunting.*In fact, in the chapter “The Cave”, the Quran reveals the story of some youths who had faith and trust in Allaah, who took refuge in a cave from the persecution and violence of the unbelievers of their day. That these righteous people had a dog with them, and the fact that Allaah mentions the dog and counts the dog among them, indicates that dogs are permitted to live among people.*The Quran says (what means): "And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his two forelegs at the entrance (of the cave as a guard)..." [Quran 18:18] Thus, dogs may be used for guards as well as for hunting as the Noble Quran also states (what means): "They ask you, (O Muhammad), what has been made lawful for them. Say: ‘Lawful for you are (all) good foods and (game caught by) what you have trained of hunting, animals which you train as Allaah , the Exalted has taught you. So eat of what they catch for you, and mention the name of Allaah upon it, and fear Allaah.’ Indeed Allaah is swift in account." [Quran 5:4]**In two separate narrations by Abu Hurayrah the Prophet (may peace be upon him) , told his companions of the virtue of saving the life of a dog by giving it water and quenching its thirst. Allah's Apostle said, "While a man was walking he felt thirsty and went down a well and drank water from it. On coming out of it, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of excessive thirst. The man said, 'This (dog) is suffering from the same problem as that of mine. So he (went down the well), filled his shoe with water, caught hold of it with his teeth and climbed up and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for his (good) deed and forgave him." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Is there a reward for us in serving (the) animals?" He replied, "Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate." Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith;3.551The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, "While a dog was going round a well and was about to die of thirst, an Israeli prostitute saw it and took off her shoe and watered it. So Allah , the Exalted forgave her because of that good deed. Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith; 4.673.Let us reflect upon this and beware of our duty towards Allaah's creatures, which He has put on earth for our use and not for our abuse. When the Prophet (may peace be upon him) , replied: "Yes, there is a reward for acts of charity to every beast alive." Let us fear Allaah , the Exalted with regard to His creatures, lest we earn His Wrath. Let us go forth in support and love for animals, knowing that Allaah, The Most High, considers such a deed done for His Sake as being worthy of the reward of Paradise. (Ref;www. Islamweb.net)
Allahumma ijal leesanee ‘amiran bi thikrika wa qalbi bi khashyatika.
O Allah! Make my tongue full of Your remembrance, and my heart with consciousness of You
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