Assalamu Alaikum, dear Paws family.

On this blessed Friday, as we clean our homes and hearts for Jummah, I want to talk about the little hearts beating quietly in the corner of our homes — our cats.

We often think of worship as prayer, fasting, and charity to people. But in Islam, mercy has no limit. It extends to every living being that cannot speak for itself.  “Is there a reward for us in serving animals?” He said, “Yes, there is a reward for serving any living being.” One act of kindness erased sins. One act of cruelty led to punishment. That is how heavy our pets weigh in the eyes of Allah.

What This Means For Us As Cat Parents Today — Especially on a Friday

Having a cat at home is not just a lifestyle choice. It is a daily act of worship if we do it right.

1. Provide with Ihsan: Your cat’s bowl, water, and clean litter box is your rizq to her. In this Karachi heat, keeping fresh water in 2-3 places and a cool place to rest is not luxury, it is mercy.

2. Protect with Responsibility: Net your balconies and windows. Islam forbids us from putting animals in harm’s way. Protecting them from falls, from swallowing thread or wires, from toxic plants — that is part of our duty as guardians.

3. Love with Gentleness: The Prophet ﷺ forbade striking an animal on its face and overloading it. With our cats, this means never hitting them for scratching, never shouting when they hide. Teach children to be gentle. A scratching post, daily brushing, and 15 minutes of play is the Prophetic way — replacing harshness with understanding.

On this Jummah, let’s make a small niyyah. Let’s check our cat’s water bowl before we go for Jummah prayer. Let’s scoop the litter box with the intention of cleanliness, which is half of faith. Let’s play with them for a few minutes with kindness, seeking Allah’s pleasure.

Because maybe, just maybe, those quiet purrs at home are the reason Allah forgives us and shows us mercy in return.

As the scholars say: Show mercy to those on earth, and the One in the Heavens will show mercy to you.

What is one act of mercy you did for an animal this week? Share in the comments — let’s inspire each other.

Jummah Mubarak to you and your fur family.

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