39/37. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2233b — Harmful Snakes and House Snake Warning
Killing Snakes Etc.
Hadith About Harmful Snakes, Eyesight, and House Snakes
Sahih Muslim : 2233b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2233b
وَحَدَّثَنَا حَاجِبُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَالِمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْمُرُ بِقَتْلِ الْكِلاَبِ يَقُولُ \" اقْتُلُوا الْحَيَّاتِ وَالْكِلاَبَ وَاقْتُلُوا ذَا الطُّفْيَتَيْنِ وَالأَبْتَرَ فَإِنَّهُمَا يَلْتَمِسَانِ الْبَصَرَ وَيَسْتَسْقِطَانِ الْحَبَالَى \" . قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ وَنُرَى ذَلِكَ مِنْ سُمَّيْهِمَا وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ . قَالَ سَالِمٌ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ فَلَبِثْتُ لاَ أَتْرُكُ حَيَّةً أَرَاهَا إِلاَّ قَتَلْتُهَا فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أُطَارِدُ حَيَّةً يَوْمًا مِنْ ذَوَاتِ الْبُيُوتِ مَرَّ بِي زَيْدُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ أَوْ أَبُو لُبَابَةَ وَأَنَا أُطَارِدُهَا فَقَالَ مَهْلاً يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ . فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَمَرَ بِقَتْلِهِنَّ . قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ نَهَى عَنْ ذَوَاتِ الْبُيُوتِ . وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ، حُمَيْدٍ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا حَسَنٌ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ صَالِحٍ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ غَيْرَ أَنَّ صَالِحًا، قَالَ حَتَّى رَآنِي أَبُو لُبَابَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُنْذِرِ وَزَيْدُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالاَ إِنَّهُ قَدْ نَهَى عَنْ ذَوَاتِ الْبُيُوتِ . وَفِي حَدِيثِ يُونُسَ \" اقْتُلُوا الْحَيَّاتِ \" . وَلَمْ يَقُلْ \" ذَا الطُّفْيَتَيْنِ وَالأَبْتَرَ \" .
Ibn 'Umar reported: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) commanding the killing of dogs and the killing of the striped and the short-tailed snakes, for both of them affect the eyesight adversely and cause miscarriage. Zuhri said: We thought of their poison (the pernicious effects of these two). Allah, however, knows best. 'Abdullah b. 'Umar said: I did not spare any snake. I rather killed everyone that I saw. One day as I was pursuing a snake from amongst the snakes of the house, Zaid b. Khattab or Abu Lubaba happened to pass by me and found me pursuing it. He said: 'Abdullah, wait. I said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) commanded (us) to kill them, whereupon he said that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade the killing of the snakes of the houses. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2233b, cIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 178USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5545
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2233b
Core Topic: Snake Safety. This Hadith is often searched as “hadith about snakes affecting eyesight” or “hadith about killing house snakes.” It reports that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded the killing of dogs, snakes, and especially the striped and short-tailed snakes. The stated reason is that these two affect eyesight and cause miscarriage. Zuhri said they thought this was due to their poison, while also saying Allah knows best. Ibn Umar acted on the command by killing every snake he saw, until he was corrected about snakes of the houses. This is the main lesson: the text contains both a command and a limit. A believer should not ignore either part.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith names the striped and short-tailed snakes as harmful types.
- The text links these two snakes with harm to eyesight and pregnancy.
- Zuhri’s statement shows caution by saying Allah knows best.
- The ban on killing house snakes is part of the same discussion.
