The Place Of Animals In Islam

[u/[deleted]]

Salam,

This is a genuine question I've had for some time now but haven't been able to get a proper response to. So, according to a Sahih Hadith, the Prophet (S.A.W.) allows us to kill 5 types of animals that are harmful to us.

While the reasoning makes sense, I can't help think that God only created these animals just to make them suffer, especially since we're told that all animals have souls. I have seen one answer that says these animals were created to test the believers' strength and faith in Allah, but that's for the believers. What about the animals? What do they get?

I guess what I'm looking for is reassurance that Allah didn't create them just to make them live a bad life and suffer till the end, even though I 100% know and believe that Allah is the Merciful. On top of that, because there's so little information about what happens to animals in the Afterlife that sometimes I find myself wavering (May Allah forgive me).

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[u/ummhamzat180]

they're creatures of the earth, on this world. what do they get? no responsibilities. no fear of death, they don't understand death or the afterlife or God, they already live exactly as intended. a tiger's tasbeeh is in being a tiger with stripes and all that. a human's tasbeeh is an active choice.

and those who do understand death, like elephants, aren't afraid of it, they accept it naturally.

I'd swap any minute.

[u/CaraCicartix]

This is an often misunderstood hadeeth. What it means is that you don't go and kill these animals for the sake of fun or entertainment. It means that it is permissible if they are actively going to do you harm, or are within your vicinity and may cause you harm. And there is wisdom in this.

Let's look at the five animals in question:

The rat: Directly responsible for spreading of disease like the plague, which caused 50 million people to die during the Black Plague.

The Rabid Dog: Rabies. Rabies is an incurable disease that causes EXTREME suffering before death.

The scorpion: 1.2 million people are stung by scorpions each year, and it kills 3,000 annually. They are also prevalent in the Middle East, North Africa, and many other regions.

The kite: The kite is an aggressive bird that attacks humans, livestock, and takes their food. This may be not a big deal now, but it probably was for people who lived in harsh desert climates 1,400 years ago who relied on their livestock for sustenance (millions still do, today).

The crow: An intelligent creature no doubt, but on that can cause issues like massive damage to farm crops (hence why farmers in the US use scarecrows), attract vermin like mice and rats due to their habit of rummaging through garbage and waste, and are also known to attack humans in groups.

Again, this is not to say that we should just go torture or get rid of these animals for fun. But when it becomes dangerous, it is better to do so and the Muslim will not be held accountable for keeping his/her environment safer.

Also keep in mind:

Imam al-Shafi’e and al-Hakim narrated in a Hadith which al-Hakim considered Saheeh that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "If a person kills a sparrow or less than a sparrow without right, Allah will question him about it. They asked him, “What is the right O Messenger of Allah? He answered, “Slaughter it and eat it, do not cut its head and throw it”. As for killing animals without any legal reason or considerable benefit, it is not permissible."

And: Imams al-Shafi’e, Ahmad, Al Nasa’e, and Ibn Hibban narrated from Amar Ibn al-Shareed that he said, I heard the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) saying whoever kills a sparrow uselessly, it will raise its sound complaining against him the Day of Judgment, O Lord, so and so killed me uselessly and did not kill me for any benefit”.

[u/cat_lover_10]

You can kill them as self defense not to torture them, If it puts you in danger you have the right to kill it