There are more than 200 Ayahs in the Glorious Qur’an
regarding animals. There are five Surahs in the Glorious Qur’an after the name
of animals viz. Surah al-An’am (Cattle),
Surah al-Nahl (The Bee), Surah al-Naml (The Ant), Surah al-An-Kabut (The
Spider), Surah al-Feel (The Elephant). In the following cases, the animals
have been referred:
Surah al-An’am Ayah 38: “All the beasts on
land and flying birds have different communities, just as you (people) do. Nothing is left without
a mention in the Book. They will all be brought into the presence of their Lord.”
Surah al-Nur Ayah 41: “Did you
not see that all that is between the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah and that the birds spread their wings in the air
to glorify Allah? He knows every one’s prayers and praising; Allah has absolute knowledge of what they
do.
Surah al-Gha’fir Ayah 79: “It is
Allah Who has created cattle for you to ride and to consume as food. You may also obtain other benefits from them. You may
ride them to seek whatever you need or be carried by them.”
Surah al-Ghashiyah Ayah 17: “Have
they not looked at how the camel is created.”
The animals are also the creation of Allah and have certain
rights. Islam has prescribed certain rights to the animals and consequently, it
is the responsibility of human beings to take care of them as detailed below:
If the animals are used for work, they
should be provided proper food and water.
The animals which are allowed to
be consumed should be slaughtered according to the rules of “Zabiha” which prevents cruelty to them.
In Islamic laws, it is prohibited
to abuse and torture them. We should be compassionate towards them.
The animals should not be frightened.
No animal should be slaughtered in front of other animal.
The animals should not be made to
carry unbearable loads.
The sick animals should not be
put to work.
The animals should neither be
humiliated nor beaten up or any way maltreated.
Baby animals should not be
separated from their mother.
The animals should be provided
with hygienic conditions.
Once, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) was performing
ablution with water from a pot. A cat passed by and turned its eyes towards the
pot with thirsty eyes. He (s.a.w.a.s.) realized that the cat was thirsty and
placed the pot in front of the cat. Only after the cat had fully quenched its
thirst did he resume ablution!
The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “He who takes pity
even on a sparrow and spares its life, Allah (s.w.t.) will be merciful to him
on the Day of Judgment.”
The Infallible Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) had
some ducks under his care in the house. At time of his death, he had given
particular instructions to his sons to take good care of them or to set them
free.
Sources used:
The Glorious Qur’an, al-islam/Islamic Stories, WIKIPEDIA,
Other web sites
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