39/37. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2233i — House Snake Exception Explained
Killing Snakes Etc.
Hadith About House Snakes Except Short-Tailed and Striped Snakes
Sahih Muslim : 2233i
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2233i
وَحَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَهْضَمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - وَهُوَ عِنْدَنَا ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ يَوْمًا عِنْدَ هَدْمٍ لَهُ فَرَأَى وَبِيصَ جَانٍّ فَقَالَ اتَّبِعُوا هَذَا الْجَانَّ فَاقْتُلُوهُ . قَالَ أَبُو لُبَابَةَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ قَتْلِ الْجِنَّانِ الَّتِي تَكُونُ فِي الْبُيُوتِ إِلاَّ الأَبْتَرَ وَذَا الطُّفْيَتَيْنِ فَإِنَّهُمَا اللَّذَانِ يَخْطِفَانِ الْبَصَرَ وَيَتَتَبَّعَانِ مَا فِي بُطُونِ النِّسَاءِ .
Nafi Narrated from:
Nafi' reported on the authority of his father that as 'Abdullah b. 'Umar saw one day (standing) near the ruin (of his house) the slough of a snake and said (to the people around him): Pursue this snake and kill it. Abu Lubaba Ansari said: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). He forbade the killing of snakes found in the houses except the short-tailed snakes and those having streaks upon them, for both of them obliterate eyesight and affect that which is in the wombs of (pregnant) women.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2233iIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 184USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5551
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2233i
Core Topic: Snake Safety. This Hadith is often searched as “hadith about killing snakes except house snakes.” Ibn Umar saw the trace of a snake and told people to pursue it and kill it. Abu Lubaba then said that he heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم forbid the killing of snakes found in houses, except the short-tailed snake and the one with streaks. The reason given is that these two can take away eyesight and affect what is in the wombs of women. This report is clear and balanced. It gives a general restraint for house snakes, then names two exceptions. The explanation must stay with this wording and not turn it into a wider claim.
What we learn from this hadith
- Snakes found in houses are not to be killed according to this report.
- The short-tailed snake is named as an exception.
- The snake with streaks is also named as an exception.
- The text gives a reason connected to eyesight and pregnancy.
