42/34. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4349 — Do Not Kill Animals Without Just Cause
Permissibility Of Eating Small Birds
Animal Welfare in Islam: Do Not Kill Birds Without Just Cause
Sunan an-Nasai : 4349
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4349
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْمُقْرِئُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَا مِنْ إِنْسَانٍ قَتَلَ عُصْفُورًا فَمَا فَوْقَهَا بِغَيْرِ حَقِّهَا إِلاَّ سَأَلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَنْهَا " . قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا حَقُّهَا قَالَ " يَذْبَحُهَا فَيَأْكُلُهَا وَلاَ يَقْطَعُ رَأْسَهَا يَرْمِي بِهَا " .
'Abdullah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no person who kills a small bird or anything larger for no just reason, but Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will ask him about it." It was said: "O Messenger of Allah, what does just reason;' mean?" Her said: "That you slaughter it and eat it, and do not cut off its head and throw it aside."
[1] This appears again, see Nos. 4450 and 4451.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4349In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 87English translation : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 4354
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4349
This hadith teaches animal welfare in Islam through the example of a small bird. The Messenger of Allah said that anyone who kills a bird, or something larger, without a just reason will be questioned by Allah about it. When asked what a just reason means, he explained that the animal may be slaughtered and eaten, but its head should not simply be cut off and thrown away. The teaching is about purpose and responsibility. It warns against killing living creatures for play, carelessness, or waste. It does not forbid lawful slaughter for food. Instead, it separates useful slaughter from needless destruction. For people searching for a hadith about kindness to animals, this report gives a clear rule: do not take animal life without a valid purpose.
What we learn from this hadith
- Killing a bird or larger animal without a valid reason brings accountability.
- Slaughtering an animal for food is given as a just reason.
- An animal should not be killed and then thrown away.
- The hadith warns against wasteful and purposeless killing.
