What does Islam say about kindness to animals?

The short answer

Islam commands mercy to animals and makes it a matter of Paradise and Hell. A man was forgiven for giving water to a thirsty dog, and a woman entered the Fire for starving a cat. The Prophet ﷺ said there is reward in serving any living creature, and he forbade cruelty, using animals as targets, and burning living creatures.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

The Prophet ﷺ told of a man who, suffering from thirst, went down a well to drink. Coming out, he saw a dog panting and eating mud from thirst, so he went down again, filled his shoe with water and gave it to the dog. Allah thanked him and forgave him. The people asked if there is reward for serving animals, and he said there is reward for serving any living being 1.

The opposite is just as serious. A woman entered the Fire because of a cat she locked up, neither feeding it nor letting it find food for itself 2.

The Prophet ﷺ corrected even small acts of cruelty. When Companions took a bird's chicks and the mother bird fluttered in distress, he said, "Who grieved this for its young ones? Return its young ones to it." When he saw an ant colony they had burned, he said only the Lord of the fire may punish with fire 3. He forbade taking any living thing as a target 4, and he told people to fear Allah regarding animals that cannot speak, riding them and feeding them properly 5.

Even when an animal is slaughtered for food, mercy applies: Allah has prescribed excellence in everything, so sharpen the blade and let the animal die with ease 6.

Why does this matter so much? Allah sent down one part of His mercy to the earth, and because of it an animal lifts its hoof so as not to harm its young 7. Mercy to creatures reflects that mercy, and "he who is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully" 8.

A practical step: leave water out for birds and strays in hot weather. It is exactly the deed that earned that man forgiveness.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 2363
    Sahih Bukhari

    A man was forgiven for watering a thirsty dog; there is reward for serving any living being.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "While a man was walking he felt thirsty and went down a well and drank water from it. On coming out of it, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of excessive thirst. The man said, 'This (dog) is suffering from the same problem as that of mine. So he (went down the well), filled his shoe with water, caught hold of it with his teeth and climbed up and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for his (good) deed and forgave him." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Is there a reward for us in serving (the) animals?" He replied, "Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ بَيْنَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي فَاشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَطَشُ، فَنَزَلَ بِئْرًا فَشَرِبَ مِنْهَا، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِكَلْبٍ يَلْهَثُ، يَأْكُلُ الثَّرَى مِنَ الْعَطَشِ، فَقَالَ لَقَدْ بَلَغَ هَذَا مِثْلُ الَّذِي بَلَغَ بِي فَمَلأَ خُفَّهُ ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَهُ بِفِيهِ، ثُمَّ رَقِيَ، فَسَقَى الْكَلْبَ فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ، فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، وَإِنَّ لَنَا فِي الْبَهَائِمِ أَجْرًا قَالَ ‏"‏ فِي كُلِّ كَبِدٍ رَطْبَةٍ أَجْرٌ ‏"‏‏.‏ تَابَعَهُ حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ وَالرَّبِيعُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 3318
    Sahih Bukhari

    A woman entered the Fire for tying up a cat without food.

    Narrated Ibn `Umar:The Prophet (ﷺ) 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

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ دَخَلَتِ امْرَأَةٌ النَّارَ فِي هِرَّةٍ رَبَطَتْهَا، فَلَمْ تُطْعِمْهَا، وَلَمْ تَدَعْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خِشَاشِ الأَرْضِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ‏.‏

  3. 3
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 2675
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    Return the bird's young; only the Lord of the fire may punish with fire.

    Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud: We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during a journey. He went to ease himself. We saw a bird with her two young ones and we captured her young ones. The bird came and began to spread its wings. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came and said: Who grieved this for its young ones? Return its young ones to it. He also saw an ant village that we had burnt. He asked: Who has burnt this? We replied: We. He said: It is not proper to punish with fire except the Lord of fire

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو صَالِحٍ، مَحْبُوبُ بْنُ مُوسَى أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الْفَزَارِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ سَعْدٍ، - قَالَ غَيْرُ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، - عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي سَفَرٍ فَانْطَلَقَ لِحَاجَتِهِ فَرَأَيْنَا حُمَّرَةً مَعَهَا فَرْخَانِ فَأَخَذْنَا فَرْخَيْهَا فَجَاءَتِ الْحُمَّرَةُ فَجَعَلَتْ تَفْرُشُ فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ فَجَعَ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا رُدُّوا وَلَدَهَا إِلَيْهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَرَأَى قَرْيَةَ نَمْلٍ قَدْ حَرَّقْنَاهَا فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ حَرَّقَ هَذِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْنَا نَحْنُ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّهُ لاَ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُعَذِّبَ بِالنَّارِ إِلاَّ رَبُّ النَّارِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1957
    Sahih Muslim

    Do not make anything that has life a target.

    Ibn 'Abbas reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said this:Do not make anything having life as a target

    العربية

    وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ تَتَّخِذُوا شَيْئًا فِيهِ الرُّوحُ غَرَضًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 2548
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    Fear Allah regarding dumb animals; ride them and feed them properly.

    Narrated Sahl ibn al-Hanzaliyyah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came upon an emaciated camel and said: Fear Allah regarding these dumb animals. Ride them when they are in good condition and feed them when they are in good condition

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ النُّفَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مِسْكِينٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ بُكَيْرٍ - حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُهَاجِرٍ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي كَبْشَةَ السَّلُولِيِّ، عَنْ سَهْلِ ابْنِ الْحَنْظَلِيَّةِ، قَالَ ‏:‏ مَرَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِبَعِيرٍ قَدْ لَحِقَ ظَهْرُهُ بِبَطْنِهِ، فَقَالَ ‏:‏ ‏ "‏ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ فِي هَذِهِ الْبَهَائِمِ الْمُعْجَمَةِ فَارْكَبُوهَا وَكُلُوهَا صَالِحَةً ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1955
    Sahih Muslim

    Allah has prescribed excellence in everything; slaughter well and spare the animal pain.

    Shaddid b. Aus said:Two are the things which I remember Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said: Verily Allah has enjoined goodness to everything; so when you kill, kill in a good way and when you slaughter, slaughter in a good way. So every one of you should sharpen his knife, and let the slaughtered animal die comfortably

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ الْحَذَّاءِ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَشْعَثِ، عَنْ شَدَّادِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ، قَالَ ثِنْتَانِ حَفِظْتُهُمَا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الْقِتْلَةَ وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذَّبْحَ وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ فَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2752
    Sahih Muslim

    From the one part of mercy sent to earth, an animal lifts its hoof from its young.

    Abu Huraira reported:I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah created mercy in one hundred parts and He retained with Him ninety-nine parts, and He has sent down upon the earth one part, and it is because of this one part that there is mutual love among the creation so much so that the animal lifts up its hoof from its young one, fearing that it might harm it

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى التُّجِيبِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ سَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الرَّحْمَةَ مِائَةَ جُزْءٍ فَأَمْسَكَ عِنْدَهُ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ وَأَنْزَلَ فِي الأَرْضِ جُزْءًا وَاحِدًا فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ الْجُزْءِ تَتَرَاحَمُ الْخَلاَئِقُ حَتَّى تَرْفَعَ الدَّابَّةُ حَافِرَهَا عَنْ وَلَدِهَا خَشْيَةَ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  8. 8
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6013
    Sahih Bukhari

    Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully.

    Narrated Jarir bin `Abdullah:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who is not merciful to others, will not be treated mercifully

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي زَيْدُ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَرِيرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمُ لاَ يُرْحَمُ ‏"‏‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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