Animal Rights in Islam

Many Muslims appear to have a callous attitude where dealing with animals is concerned giving the impression that maybe their religion has no consideration for animals.

However, when we examine the Quran and Hadith, we are pleasantly surprised to find that the opposite is true.

Islam indeed places much importance on animals and on providing for them in a caring manner. There are five chapters whose titles are based on the names of animals.

Besides, the mention of animals is found throughout the Quran. In chapter Al-An'am God says:

{There is no animal walking on the earth nor a bird flying on its two wings, except that they are (part of) communities like you.} (6: 38)

God, in His infinite wisdom, has organized even the most humble of creatures, like birds, bees and ants into communities so that they can work, communicate and survive according to strict ethical and organizational rules, without any deviation.

All the creatures in the world, including the animals, glorify their Lord and:

{The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein proclaim His praise. And there is not a thing, but proclaims His praise; but you do not understand their glorification.} (17: 44)

The living sing with their tongues, while the non-living with the tacit acquiescence of their condition. Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) was asked to build a large boat under divine instructions:

{Construct a boat under Our supervision and by Our inspiration, and do not address Me about those who are evil. They are sure to be drowned} (11: 38)

The ones to be saved from the flood were the believers as well as a pair each of every species of animals:

{… We said, ‘Load aboard (animals), of every pair two, and of your household, leaving out those for whom the final verdict has already been passed. And (load) those who have come to believe} (11: 40)

The fact that the command to save the animals came before the command to save the believers, points to the importance of the animals that were on the verge of becoming endangered species at that point in time.

The Quran relates the story of the Thamud, Prophet Salih’s nation to whom he had been sent to reform their ways, to call them towards the one God and to supervise the equitable distribution of their means of subsistence. He reached an agreement with the nine leaders who had control over the sources of water, which the people and the she-camel (that was sent as a sign, or miracle, from God), would take turns to consume. They were also asked to share the pastures.

{Indeed, there has come to you a miracle from your Lord, this is God’s she-camel, a clear sign. Let her graze freely in God’s earth. Do not touch her with bad intentions, or you will get caught in painful retribution} (6: 73)

But they broke their promise and killed her:

{So they hamstrung the she-camel and flouted the commandment of their Lord, and said, ‘O Salih, bring upon us that which you promised us, if you are indeed a messenger’. So the Trembling seized them, and they lay lifeless prostrate in their habitations.} (7: 77-8)

Since the whole nation had colluded in this, the whole nation was destroyed. The immediate cause of their destruction was that they had harmed the she-camel.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said that if the smallest of birds is killed without its right and thrown away, this act will be questioned as a crime. He explained that its right was that it should be slaughtered only in case of the need for food and not killed and thrown away unnecessarily. The hunting of animals simply for the pleasure derived from a sharp-shooting spree is not considered lawful.

The Prophet also instructed that the knife for slaughter should be sharp so that the animal is not given more pain. Once the Prophet saw that during a camp, somebody lighted a fire near an ant-hill. He at once asked for it to be put out. Once somebody caught two little baby birds whose mother started to circle above them with cries of pain. When the Prophet saw this, he asked the person to set them free.

The Prophet once related the story of the person who specially went down a well in order to quench the thirst of a dog. He said that treating any and every living creature with kindness is a case for reward. The Prophet forbade the hitting of animals on their faces and branding them. He forbade sports based on animal fights.

The Prophet instructed his followers to let the animals take advantage of the greenery on the way when travelling, but to make them move fast and shorten their trip in dry weather, to shorten their agony.

According to the teachings of the Prophet, animals should not be harmed but treated with kindness. During the pilgrimage, once a pilgrim makes the intention for Umrah or Hajj and puts on the ihram, the pilgrim enters a state of consecration, in which certain lawful things also become unlawful:

{O you who believe, do not slay game while you are in the state of pilgrimage inviolability; whoever of you slays it wilfully, then the compensation shall be the equivalent of what he has slain, of flocks, to be judged by two just men among you, an offering to reach the Kabah. Or, an expiation: food for the poor; or, the equivalent of that in fasting, so that he may taste the evil consequence of his deed.} (5: 94)

One of these is the killing of animals, no matter how small. It is forbidden in the area of the sanctuary, which is about 50,000 square kilometers around the Kabah in Makkah.

The slaughter of animals is allowed only for food, after the permission of God has been taken, by slaughtering the animal in the name of God, in the prescribed manner. The Quran mentions some of the great signs of nature:

{Indeed, in the heavens and the earth are signs for the true believers. And in your creation and in the spreading of the animals are signs for those who possess firm faith} (45: 4)

The importance of the creation of human beings is equated with the importance of the creation of animals. Thus, belief in the importance of animals and treating them with kindness are signs of firm faith.