Haidths on Animal Treatment

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A woman was punished (by God)
because of a cat. She had not provided (the cat) with food or drink, nor had she set it free so
that it might eat the insects of the earth." - Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1047
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "While a man was walking along a road,
he became very thirsty. He came to a well, got down into it, drank, and climbed out again. He
then saw a dog panting and licking mud because of severe thirst. The man said to himself,
'This dog is suffering from the same state of thirst I did.' So he went down the well (again),
filled his shoe (with water), held it in his mouth (as he climbed out), and gave the water to the
dog. God thanked him for that deed and forgave him (his sins)." The people then asked the
Prophet: "Is there a reward for us in serving animals?" He replied: "(Yes), there is a reward
for serving any (living being)." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 38
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Once while a prophet amongst the
prophets was taking a rest underneath a tree, an ant bit him. He, therefore, ordered that his
luggage be taken away from underneath that tree and then ordered that the dwelling place of
the ants should be set on fire. God sent him a revelation: 'Wouldn't it have been sufficient to
burn (the) single ant (that bit you)?'" - Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith 536

Are Zoos allowed in Islam? What does Islam say about animal
cruelty?
The sections of this article are:
1- Introduction and my appeal to you!
2- Animal cruelty used to be and still is part of many humans' cultures.
3- So what does Islam say about all of this?

45678-

What about animal sacrifices in Islam?

So what does the Bible say about animal torture and imprisonment?
Muslim and non-Muslim countries all have zoos today!
Conclusion.
Pictures of brutality against animals - Animal fights, captivity and torture.

1-

Introduction and my appeal to you!

Animals can roam 100s of square miles. Locking them in cages is worse than life in
prison with hard labor! Allah Almighty created animals to live in communities like
us. This means that He created means of communication and understanding for them
(languages as we call it). This simply raises the animals to a level which prohibits us
to imprison them and to lock them up for life in zoos:
"There is not an animal (That lives) on the earth, Nor a being that flies On its
wings, but (forms Part of) communities like you. Nothing have We omitted From
the Book, and they (all) Shall be gathered to their Lord In the end. (The Noble Quran,
6:38)"
"Seest thou not that it is God Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do
celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own
(mode of) prayer and praise. And God knows well all that they do. (The Noble
Quran, 24:41)"
"Seest thou not that to God bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens
and on earth,- the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great
number among mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment:
and such as God shall disgrace,- None can raise to honour: for God carries out all that
He wills. (The Noble Quran, 22:18)"

Note: More Noble Verses, elaborations and details are listed in section
#3 below.
Since animals live in communities like us, and they Pray to GOD Almighty like we
do but in their own way that GOD Almighty ordained for them, this makes them
deserve to live a free and open life, and not to be locked up in prisons (zoos and cages
at our home).
We live in a world today where mistreatment of prisoners of war is a big deal. We
raise hell if humans are mistreated. But what about our animal prisoners? We
sentence those poor creatures to life in prisons (zoos and cages in our homes), and we
entertain ourselves really well through their suffering. We lock them up in cages at
our homes while they can fly or swim 100s of square miles in a matter of couple of
days.
You might have a good point in keeping farm animals in your yard or farm. This is
not animal imprisonment or cruelty. Farm animals such as goats and horses, and pet
animals such as cats and dogs don't mind living with humans. But keeping wild
animals, birds and fishes locked in cages is torture to these innocent creatures.

Please say no to bad zoos and pets

imprisonment (i.e., locked up birds and
fishes)!

2-

Animal cruelty used to be and still is part of

many humans' cultures:
Animals not only suffer in prisons from us, but they also suffer a great torture by us.
Think about the World's popular sports from "Bear Bating", where they unleash
several pit bull dogs to attack a bear tied to a metal pole, or a bull fight a bear.
Think about the "Bull Fight" sport, where a man fights a bull with his swords, and
slowly and painfully stabs the bull with those swords until the bull collapses and dies.
This sport is very popular today in Europe.
Think about the "Dog Fights" sport, where they bring two dogs to fight each others to
death and make bets on them.
Think about the "Cock Fights" or the "Rooster Fights", where similar to the dogs
fights, they would bring two roosters to fight each others to death and make bets on
them.
Important Note: By the way, even though I disliked the Taliban in Afghanistan, but
they did ban this ridiculous sport and flogged those who did it, and now after the
removal of the Taliban it is coming back along with raising the drug crops as I heard
on Fox News Channel. This is something I really appreciate from the Taliban
regardless of their excessive oppressing regime.
Think about the "Animals' Hunting Seasons" such as hunting mountain lions, ducks
and dears in Canada and the US. As a human and a Muslim, I can appreciate hunting
dears and ducks for food. But I can never appreciate hunting mountain lions for
recreation.
Think about the illegal hunting of bears world wide to get their gulp bladder, because
some ridiculous Pagan Chinese tradition suggests that if you eat a bear gulf bladder,
then you should heal from your diseases and become a lot stronger. Medically this
had all been proven to be a bunch of garbage!

3-

So what does Islam say about all of this?

Allah Almighty created animals to live in communities like us. This means that He
created means of communication and understanding for them (languages as we call
it). This simply raises the animals to a level which prohibits us to imprison them and
to lock them up for life in zoos:
Noble Verse 6:38 was sent to me by brother Karim Mostafa; may Allah Almighty
always be pleased with him:
"There is not an animal (That lives) on the earth, Nor a being that flies On its
wings, but (forms Part of) communities like you. Nothing have We omitted From
the Book, and they (all) Shall be gathered to their Lord In the end. (The Noble Quran,
6:38)"
"Seest thou not that it is God Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do
celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own
(mode of) prayer and praise. And God knows well all that they do. (The Noble
Quran, 24:41)"
"Seest thou not that to God bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens
and on earth,- the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great
number among mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment:
and such as God shall disgrace,- None can raise to honour: for God carries out all that
He wills. (The Noble Quran, 22:18)"
Since animals live in communities like us, and they Pray to GOD Almighty like we do
but in their own way that GOD Almighty ordained for them, this makes them deserve
to live a free and open life, and not to be locked up in prisons (zoos and cages at our
home).

Prophet Muhammad peace be upon

him DIRECTLY forbade animal
cruelty and imprisonment:
Before we look the Sayings and Commands of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon
him, it is important to know that according to the Noble Quran, Allah Almighty
ordered the Muslims to obey the Prophet and to follow his commands.
Allah Almighty said in the Noble Quran:
"O ye who believe! Obey God, and obey the Apostle, and those charged with
authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to God and
His Apostle, if ye do believe in God and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable
for final determination. (The Noble Quran, 4:59)"
"When there comes to them some matter touching (Public) safety or fear, they divulge
it. If they had only referred it to the Apostle, or to those charged with authority
among them, the proper investigators would have Tested it from them (direct). Were
it not for the Grace and Mercy of God unto you, all but a few of you would have
fallen into the clutches of Satan. (The Noble Quran, 4:83)"
Having said that, let us look at some of the Sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be
upon him:
Animal cruelty and imprisonment are clearly prohibited in Islam! Let us look at what
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said:
Narrated Abu Huraira: "The Prophet said, 'A man saw a dog eating mud from (the
severity of) thirst. So, that man took a shoe (and filled it) with water and kept on
pouring the water for the dog till it quenched its thirst. So Allah approved of his deed
and made him to enter Paradise.' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Ablutions (Wudu'),
Volume 1, Book 4, Number 174)"
Narrated Ibn 'Umar: "The Prophet said, 'A woman entered the (Hell) Fire because
of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the

vermin of the earth.' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Beginning of Creation, Volume 4,

Book 54, Number 535)"
Narrated Asma' bint Abi Bakr: 'The Prophet once offered the eclipse prayer. He stood
for a long time and then did a prolonged bowing. He stood up straight again and kept
on standing for a long time, then bowed a long bowing and then stood up straight and
then prostrated a prolonged prostration and then lifted his head and prostrated a
prolonged prostration. And then he stood up for a long time and then did a prolonged
bowing and then stood up straight again and kept on standing for a long time. Then he
bowed a long bowing and then stood up straight and then prostrated a prolonged
prostration and then lifted his head and went for a prolonged prostration. On
completion o the prayer, he said, "Paradise became s near to me that if I had dared, I
would have plucked one of its bunches for you and Hell became so near to me that
said, 'O my Lord will I be among those people?' Then suddenly I saw a woman and
a cat was lacerating her with it claws. On inquiring, it was said that the woman
had imprisoned the cat till it died of starvation and she neither fed it no freed it
so that it could feed itself.' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Characteristics of Prayer,
Volume 1, Book 12, Number 712)"
As we clearly see from the above Sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him,
cruelty and imprisonment of animals will cause the person to get tortured in Hell.
Islam does not tolerate the torture and the bad treatment done to animals from the
ridiculous sports of today.

Animals do worship Allah Almighty and thus

need to be respected:
"Seest thou not that to God bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens
and on earth,- the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great
number among mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment:
and such as God shall disgrace,- None can raise to honour: for God carries out all that
He wills. (The Noble Quran, 22:18)"

"Seest thou not that it is God Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do
celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own
(mode of) prayer and praise. And God knows well all that they do. (The Noble
Quran, 24:41)"

4-

What about the animal sacrifices in Islam?

Animal sacrifices in Islam are only meant to feed the poor and the needy. Allah
Almighty doesn't really care for the sacrifice, nor does animal sacrifice really mean
much to Allah Almighty:
"The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the symbols from God: in
them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of God over them as they line
up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof,
and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility:
thus have We made animals subject to you, that ye may be grateful. It is not their
meat nor their blood, that reaches God: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has
thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify God for His Guidance to you and
proclaim the good news to all who do right. Verily God will defend (from ill) those
who believe: verily, God loveth not any that is a traitor to faith, or show
ingratitude. (The Noble Quran, 22:36-38)"
Muslims are not vegetarians. We do eat some animals for nutrition. But we are not
supposed to cause animals to live in prisons, or to die slow and painful deaths. When
an animal is due to be killed, then it will be put to death in the appropriate Islamic
way.
Important Note: I was taught that either Prophet Muhammad or his second Caliph
Omar (I don't remember), commanded us that when we kill an animal, we must not
kill it in front of another animal. The animal must be killed privately so the other
animal wouldn't get scared.

5-

So what does the Bible say about animal

torture and imprisonment?
In the Old Testaments, animal cruelty to domestic animals, such as farm animals, is
prohibited. Let us look at the following verse:
"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked
are cruel. (From the NIV Bible, Proverbs 12:10)"

6-

Muslim and non-Muslim countries all have

zoos today!
Pretty much almost every country in the world today has a zoo. The issue that I am
raising however is that Christians today don't mind zoos and animal imprisonment.
In fact as I mentioned above, many Christians have pets such as birds locked up in
cages and fishes locked up in glass boxes filled with water. They see no problem with
it from the Bible.
Muslims too today don't mind animal imprisonment and they practice it. But the
religious Muslims don't agree with the zoos because Islam clearly prohibited animal
imprisonment. The Bible never addressed the issue.
I never judge a religion based on what its followers do. I judge it based on what it
teaches its followers.

For instance, if the Bible prohibited animal imprisonment and all Jews and Christians
today still violate the Bible and practice it, then I would still be glad to mention that
the Bible clearly prohibits animal imprisonment despite if all of its followers disregard
its command.
Those Muslims who know about Islam's prohibition to animal imprisonment and
torture, and still go to zoos with their own free will are hypocrites!

7-

Conclusion:

Zoos and animal cruelty and imprisonment are clearly prohibited in Islam. As I
demonstrated above, there is no question about that! Islam is a religion that is full of
Mercy and respect to animals. The man-altered and man-corrupted (according to its
own theologians) Bible on the other hand has little or even no regard for animals.
While many from the Jews, Christians and Muslims are guilty of animal cruelty
as section #9 below proves it with pictures, but the scriptures of the these groups are
poles apart when it comes to valuing animals.
Allah Almighty in the Noble Quran valued animals and clearly Stated that they
even Pray to Him, all Praise and Glory are due to Him. He, the Almighty, Said that
they worship Him in the Way that He ordained to them as we Worship Him in the way
that was ordained to us (by bowing our arrogant faces down to the ground in
humility before Him):
"Serve God, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk,
orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the
companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands
possess: For God loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious;- (The Noble Quran,
4:36)"
"But to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, He will give their (due)
rewards,- and more, out of His bounty: But those who are disdainful and arrogant,

He will punish with a grievous penalty; Nor will they find, besides God, any to
protect or help them. (The Noble Quran, 4:173)"
"(God) said: "Get thee down from this: it is not for thee to be arrogant here: get out,
for thou art of the meanest (of creatures)." (The Noble Quran, 7:13)"
The Bible on the other hand makes no mention in regards to respecting animals.
At any rate, whether you are a Muslim or non-Muslim, if you have the least humanity
in you, then please do not go to any zoo. Do not support any organization that tortures
and imprisons animals, and most of all, Please do not imprison fishes and birds in
your home! I encourage you to remove such poor "pets" and grant them mercy and
freedom, so in the end GOD Almighty would have some mercy on your soul at the
Day of Judgement.
Don't be like that woman who got tortured in Hell Fire because of an innocent cat, as
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, narrated to us.