Islam places great emphasis on mercy, justice, and compassion for all living beings — including animals. The Qur’an and Hadith remind us that animals are communities like us (Qur’an 6:38). They are created by Allah. Animals deserve to be treated with respect, care, and dignity. From these teachings, we can draw a simple Islamic code for how we should treat animals:

1. Respect Their Rights to Life:

• Animals are part of Allah’s creation and should never be harmed without reason.
• Killing or mistreating them for sport, amusement, or cruelty is strictly forbidden.

2. Proper Care:

• Feeding, sheltering, and giving water to animals is considered a form of charity (sadaqah).
• The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that a person was rewarded with Paradise for giving water to a thirsty dog, and another was punished for starving a cat.

3. No Cruelty or Abuse:

• Beating, overworking, or neglecting animals is a major sin.
• The Prophet ﷺ warned against cursing or torturing animals, as they also glorify Allah in their own way.

4. Compassion in Use:

• When animals are used for food or work, they must be treated gently.
• Islam prescribes humane methods for slaughter (halal), ensuring the animal experiences the least suffering.
• Burdening animals beyond their strength is forbidden.

5. Freedom and Dignity:

• Animals should not be caged or confined unnecessarily.
• Birds, for example, should not be taken from their nests, as every creature has the right to live freely unless there is a genuine need.

6. Mercy Above All:

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever is kind to the creatures of God is kind to himself.”
• Showing kindness to animals is a reflection of our faith and a path to earn Allah’s mercy.

The Islamic code for animals is built on mercy, care, and respect. Every act of kindness toward an animal is an act of worship, while cruelty is a cause of punishment. As caretakers of the Earth, it is our duty to protect the creatures Allah has entrusted to us.

Hena’s Blog For Paws © 2019 by Hena Osman is licensed under CC BY 4.0