45/37. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2242d — Kindness to Animals
The Prohibition Of Tormenting Cats And Other Animals That Are Not Harmful
Hadith About Kindness to Animals and the Cat
Sahih Muslim : 2242d
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2242d
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَسْمَاءَ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ الضُّبَعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا جُوَيْرِيَةُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَسْمَاءَ - عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " عُذِّبَتِ امْرَأَةٌ فِي هِرَّةٍ سَجَنَتْهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ فَدَخَلَتْ فِيهَا النَّارَ لاَ هِيَ أَطْعَمَتْهَا وَسَقَتْهَا إِذْ هِيَ حَبَسَتْهَا وَلاَ هِيَ تَرَكَتْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الأَرْضِ " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: A woman was tormented because of a cat which she had confined until it died and she had to get into Hell. She did not allow it either to eat or drink as it was confined, nor did she free it so that it might eat the vermin of the earth.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2242dIn-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 172USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 32, Hadith 6345
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2242d
This hadith about kindness to animals gives a serious warning through the story of a cat. Abdullah reports that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said a woman was tormented because she confined a cat until it died. She did not give it food or water while it was trapped, and she did not free it so it could eat from the creatures of the earth. The narration is direct and does not need added stories. It teaches that cruelty to an animal is not a small matter. If someone keeps an animal under control, that person must not deny it basic needs. Mercy includes how people treat weak creatures.
What we learn from this hadith
- Animals should not be confined without food and water.
- Cruelty to a helpless creature is treated seriously.
- Keeping an animal brings responsibility.
- If a person cannot care for an animal, the text shows the need not to trap it from finding food.
