Allah has granted rights to the animals, as Muslims, we should preserve those rights and fight the oppression of animals as vigorously as we fight the oppression of humans. Acts of animal cruelty should never be tolerated by the believers. Read more here about animal rights in Islam.
By Linda “Ilham” Barto
Do you not see that Allah is glorified by all beings in the skies and on Earth, including the birds with wings outspread? Each one truly knows its own prayer and praise, and Allah knows well all that they do (Surah 24: 41). There is not a creature on the earth, not even a being that flies on wings, that is not part of a community, just like you. We have omitted nothing from the Book [of Life]. They all shall be assembled before the Lord (Surah 6: 38).
In the ahadith books known as Sunan an-Nasa’i, it is reported that Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) said, “If someone kills a sparrow for sport, on the Day of Judgment, the sparrow will cry out, ‘O Lord, that person killed me in vain. He did not kill me for any useful purpose.’” (killing for no purpose is animal cruelty)
I believe that, on the Day of Judgment, all the animals will be able to testify against humanity for the crimes committed against them, and we all should be very concerned about what they will say about us. From animal brothels (where men pay to rape animals) to the senseless slaughter of endangered species, humans have devolved into monsters destroying the natural environments and all creatures who depend upon them. Animals are skinned alive because the skinners claim the furs come off easier if the blood is still flowing.
Tiny animals like baby lizards and turtles are enclosed in plastic cases and sold as key chains; without food, water, and air, they live only a few months. In some areas of Asia, dogs are tortured and then boiled alive because those who do it claim the meat is tastier if the animals are terrified and in pain. Baby seals are clubbed to death to make seal skin coats.
The black rhinoceros became extinct in 2013, and the white rhinoceros is doomed to follow because poachers continue to kill them for their horns, believed to hold aphrodisiac powers. The elephant also is soon to become extinct as they are killed for their tusks so that people can carve trinkets that nobody needs.
Do you think store-bought eggs are halal? At the hatcheries, three-day-old chicks are culled so that the male chicks can be thrown alive into meat grinders. Such atrocities against animals are endless. Every day animals suffer agonizing terror at the hands of humans turned monsters.
Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) was an animal rights activist. He taught to treat animals with kindness and dignity and forbid participation in acts of animal cruelty. In the ahadith collected by Mishkat al Masabih, it is recorded, “A good deed done to an animal is as good as doing good to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as an act of cruelty to a human being.”
Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) forbade killing animals just for the skins and furs (Abu Tirmidhi). Fur coats and rugs and leather are forbidden in Islam unless they are from animals killed for food. He forbade inciting animals to fight (Bukhari).
Dog fights, cock fights, bull fights, etc are forbidden in Islam. “The Prophet cursed anyone who made a living thing into a target” (Abu Dawud). I have a neighbor who enjoys shooting birds out of the sky for target practice; such as this is forbidden in Islam. Anything that prevents an animal from living a natural life free from abuse and exploitation is against the teachings of Islam.
The Holy Prophet said, “All creatures are like a family of Allah, and He loves the most those who are the most beneficent to His family” (Bukhari). “To whoever takes pity even on a sparrow and spares its life, Allah will be merciful on the Day of Judgment” (Al Tabarani). “If you want to be loved by your Creator, love His creatures” (Al Tirmidhi). “Whoever is kind to the creatures of Allah is kind to himself” (Bukhari).
All Muslims should be representing the passion that the Prophet had for animal rights and welfare. What can you do? For one thing, stop eating store-bought eggs for breakfast.
It may be difficult to abandon everything that uses eggs (ie, mayonnaise, pudding, cakes, and pies), but if all concerned people would just give up eggs for breakfast, the egg production industry would be pressured to find a solution other than throwing male chicks alive into meat grinders. Don’t buy furs. Most fur animals are raised in tiny, cramped cages, treated inhumanely, and then skinned alive in a horrid display of animal cruelty.
Don’t buy ivory, rhinoceros horns, or any other parts of wild animals for trinkets. Support organizations that are striving to protect animals from cruelty, abuse, and exploitation. Some of these are World Wildlife Fund, ASPCA, World Society for the Protection of Animals, Mercy for Animals, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and World Animal Foundation. You can locate and sign petitions that seek to protect animals. Some of the websites that offer such petitions are ForceChange.com, thepetitionsite.com, Change.org YouSignAnimals.org, and ActionDefenders.org.
Get on board with Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) and do your part in eliminating animal cruelty. “Fear Allah in regards to these animals who cannot speak their will!” (Abu Dawud). What will the animals say about you on the Day of Judgment?
The Prophet said, “A man felt very thirsty while he was on the way; there he came across a well. He went down the well, quenched his thirst, and came out. Meanwhile, he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. He said to himself, ‘This dog is suffering from thirst just as I did.’ So he went down into the well again and filled his shoe with water and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him.”
The people said, “O Allah’s Apostle, is there a reward for us in serving animals?”
He replied, “Yes, there is a reward for serving any living thing.”
Bukhari, Book 43, Hadith 646. Narrated by AbuHuraira
