43/42. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4445 — Accountability for Killing Animals Without Cause
The One Who Kills A Small bird For No Reason
Killing Animals Without Reason: Accountability in Islam
Sunan an-Nasai : 4445
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4445
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، يَرْفَعُهُ قَالَ " مَنْ قَتَلَ عُصْفُورًا فَمَا فَوْقَهَا بِغَيْرِ حَقِّهَا سَأَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ جَلَّ عَنْهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ " . قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَا حَقُّهَا قَالَ " حَقُّهَا أَنْ تَذْبَحَهَا فَتَأْكُلَهَا وَلاَ تَقْطَعْ رَأْسَهَا فَيُرْمَى بِهَا " .
'Abdullah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
There is no person who kills a small bird or anything larger, for no just reason, but Allah will ask him about it. It was said: "O Messenger of Allah, what does 'just reason mean?" He said: "That you slaughters it and eat it, and o not cut off its head and throw it aside,"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4445In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 85English translation : Vol. 5, Book 43, Hadith 4450
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4445
This hadith teaches accountability for killing animals without a just reason. The Messenger of Allah says that a person who kills a small bird, or anything larger, without its right will be questioned by Allah. When asked what the animal's right means, he explains that it may be slaughtered and eaten, but its head should not simply be cut off and the body thrown away. The core lesson is not a ban on all killing of animals. It is a warning against pointless killing and waste. Animal rights in Islam, as shown in this text, include not taking life for no benefit and not discarding an animal after killing it. The hadith joins responsibility, proper use, and avoidance of waste in one clear teaching.
What we learn from this hadith
- Killing a bird or larger animal without just reason brings accountability.
- The text permits slaughter for eating rather than pointless killing.
- An animal should not be killed and then thrown away unused.
- Avoiding waste is part of the responsibility described here.
