big monkey in a small cage outside the entrance broke my heart.I
gathered up the guts to enter the shop, only toleave in tears, deeply
saddened by what I had seen. Poor, helpless animals imprisoned in tiny
cages withouteven enough space to turn around; their sad, pleading
eyes haunted me as I fought the urge to set them free, assured that
none would be able to explain for what crimethey had been incarcerated
in such inhumane and unnatural'habitats'. I wondered if the pet shop
owner ever thought about what it would be like to be paralyzed; in the
same way as he had kidnappedbirds and put them in little cages. Maybe
only a fellow animal lover would really understand what I felt that
day, yet the importance of kindness to animals is something every
Muslim should understand as a part of his way of life.It is such a
serious matterthat one could gain Heaven or Hell due to his treatment
of animals. Mistreating animals is considered a major sin inIslam, as
explained in the famous Book of Major Sins by Imaam Muhammad
bin'AbdulWahhaab.Certainly, aMuslim is responsible for the treatment
of animals,because an ill-treated animal will testify againstthe one
who abused it onthe Day of Judgment. Islam forbids branding animals
and killing them in vain, such as for sport. The Prophet, forbade
people from capturing birds, burning anthills and whipping animals.
Even when slaughtering animals for food, Islam requires that the
slaughtering be done accordingto approved Islamic procedures,which are
humane and reduce suffering. As Allaah's representatives on earth,
human beings have a responsibility towards every living creature.
As I left the pet shop that day, I felt like a traitor knowing that
these animals have feelings justas real as those of humans. I walked
away leaving my fellow creatures in their state ofoppression. Outside
the shop I stepped off the curb to head across the street, when just
at my feet lay a tiny newborn kitten, perfectly positioned for a
parking car to run over it. I stood there blocking the space from
desperate drivers demanding the parking spot, while I motioned for the
pet shop worker; Ithought he would certainly be someone who cared for
and sympathized with animals. He came out, glanced down at the animal,
replied: "It's not ours" and walked back inside. I stood there for
fifteen minutes before I was able to get one of the many passers-by to
get something with which to pick up the baby kitten to move it to a
safe place. Tears streamed down my face as I wondered: "Where are the
people of theSunnah?)traditions of the Prophet Muhammad( Has Allaah
plucked the mercy from the hearts of people to make them so cold that
they lack an ounce of sympathy for oneof Allaah's beautiful creatures,
although they see it so helpless and pitiful? I remembered
AbuHurayrah,a close companion of the Noble Messenger of Allaah, who
narrated moreHadeeth s (tradition ...Rahmaan, he was knownas Abu
Hurayrah)meaning father of the kitten( because of a smallcat thathe
used to feed and care for and carry with him everywhere he went.
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, 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 knownthat 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 will not punish them for
this? Certainly Allaah's punishment for such acts is severe, if we
bear in mind the Hadeethof Allaah's Messenger, as reported
byAl-Bukhaariand Muslim regarding a woman who locked up a cat, refused
to feed it and did not release it so that it could feed itself.
Allaah's Messenger, said of herpunishment that she wastorturedand put
inHellfire.
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 shouldnot
keep a dog inside his home since the Prophet, 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 withit in its loyalty to its
caregiver, its abilities as aguard 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 andviolence 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( whatyou have trained of hunting, animals which
you train as Allaahhas taught you. So eat of what they catch for you,
and mention the name of Allaah upon it, and fear Allaah.' Indeed
Allaah is swiftin account." ]Quran 5:4[
In two separate narrations by Abu Hurayrahthe Prophet, told his
companions of the virtue of saving the life of a dog by giving it
water and quenching its thirst. One story referred to a man who was
blessed by Allaah for giving water toa thirsty dog, the other was a
prostitute who filled her shoe with water and gave it to a dog, who
had its tongue lolling out from thirst. Forthis deed she was granted
the ultimate reward, the eternalParadiseunder which rivers flow, to
live therein forever. ]Muslim[
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, was asked if Allaah rewarded acts of charity
to the animals, he, replied: "Yes, there is a reward for acts of
charityto every beast alive." Let us fear Allaah with regard to His
creatures, lest we earn His Wrath. Let us go forth in supportand 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.
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