Muhammad's attitude toward animals

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Islamic prophet Muhammad

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This article is about the attitude of Muhammad, the founder of Islam, towards animals.

Contents

[edit] Qur'an

The Qur'an is the central religious text of Islam and is the main source of information on Muhammad's life. Our present copy of the Qur'an is believed by Muslims, and the majority of historians, to represent the words which were issued from Muhammad's mouth. [1]

Halal cow slaughter in Bangladesh in accordance with Dhabiha.
Halal cow slaughter in Bangladesh in accordance with Dhabiha. [2]

Although the Qur'an considers humans to occupy the highest place, it nevertheless strongly enjoins Muslims to treat animals with compassion and not to abuse them. The Qur'an states that all creation praises God, even if this praise is not expressed in human language (e.g. see 17:44). [3] In verse 6:38, the Qur'an applies the term "umma", generally used to mean "a human religious community", for genera of animals. Encyclopedia of the Quran states that this verse have been "far reaching in its moral and ecological implications." [4]

There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end. 6:38

The Qur'an applies the word "Muslim" not only to humans but also to animals and the inanimate world. "The divine will manifests itself in the form of laws both in human society and in the world of nature. In Islamic terminology, for example, a bee is a Muslim precisely because it lives and dies obeying the "shariah" that God has prescribed for the community of bees, just as a person is a Muslim by virtue of the fact that he or she submits to the revealed shariah ordained for humans in the Quran and Sunna.[5]

[edit] Consumption of the animal meat

The Qur'an explicitly allows the eating of the meat of the animals(see 5:1).[3] Although some Sufis have practiced vegetarianism, but to date, there has been no serious discourse on the possibility of vegetarianism interpretations. [3]

The alleged 'compassionate' Islamic method of slaughter has been classed as inhumane by government-funded animal welfare authorities in the UK who have found that it 'causes severe suffering to animals'.[6][7] Cattle require up to two minutes to bleed to death when such means are employed and in the words of the Chairperson of the Farm Animal Welfare Council:

"This is a major incision into the animal and to say that it doesn't suffer is quite ridiculous."[8]

[edit] Sunnah

Sunnah refer to the traditional biographies of Muhammad wherein the example of his conduct and sayings attributed to him have been recorded.

[edit] Treatment of Animals

The historian Montgomery Watt states that Muhammad's kindness to animals was remarkable for his time and that part of the world. Watt cites an instance of Muhammed posting sentries to ensure that a bitch with newborn puppies was not disturbed by his army travelling to Mecca in the year 630.[9]

He is also said to have reprimanded some men who were sitting idly on their camels in the marketplace, saying "either ride them or leave them alone". He is also reported to have said: "There is no man who kills [even] a sparrow or anything smaller, without its deserving it, but Allah will question him about it [on the judgment day]," and "Whoever is kind to the creatures of God, is kind to himself." [3] [10] Muhammad is also said to have informed a prostitute who had seen a thirsty dog hanging around a well one day, and given it water to drink, that all her sins were forgiven. [11]

It was forbidden to cage the animals, or to beat them unnecessarily, to brand them on the face, or to be allowed to fight each other for human entertainment. "They must not be mutilated while they are alive".[11]

[edit] Views regarding particular animals

Dogs and Donkeys
According to one tradition attributed to Muhammad, black dogs are evil, or even devils, in animal form.
According to one tradition attributed to Muhammad, black dogs are evil, or even devils, in animal form.[12]

Islamic law considers dogs to be unclean, deriving this from hadith.[13] Muhammad is said to have given an order to kill all the dogs in Medina because angel Gabriel does not enter a house in which there is a dog. This hadith is however the "occasion for revelation" of verse 5:4 which indicates the importance of the hunting dog. [13] David Gordon White states that Islam, like Judaism and Christianity, usually cast the dog in a negative light by emphasizing its impurity and often identify dogs as demons or minions of the Devil. The story of the Seven sleepers of Ephesus in the Qur'an (and also role of the dog in early Christianity) are the striking exceptions. [14]. Muhammad didn't like dogs (and most Muslims do not have dogs as pets).[11]

Muhammad commanded Muslims not trade or deal in dogs [15]

Muhammad said that dogs and donkeys - if they pass in front of men in prayer - they will void or nullify that prayer.[16]

He expressed that if a dog licks a container, the container must be washed several times, with the sprinkling of dust in one of the washings.[17]

He expressed that the company of dogs voids a portion of a Muslim’s good deeds.[18]

Camel and Cat

Muhammad's camel, Qaswa, was very dear to him.[19] Cats were especially loved by Muhammad, he himself is said to have had least one cat called Muezza[2]. It is said he loved cats so much that "he would do without his cloak rather than disturb one that was sleeping on it" [19]

Hyena - Bat - Gecko - Snake
It is reported that Muhammad commanded geckos to be killed and called them 'little noxious creatures'.
It is reported that Muhammad commanded geckos to be killed and called them 'little noxious creatures'.[20]

In Muslim culture hyenas, bats, geckos, snakes, and other reptiles as well as insects are considered to be ugly, dangerous, vicious, but also powerful and often ambivalent.[21] In Hadith literature, it is reported from Muhammad that he issued advice to kill the sinful (fawasiq) animal even within the holy area (haram) of Mecca.[22]

[edit] Conversation with Animals

In many Shi'ite accounts of Muhammad he is said to have conversed nonchalantly with camels, birds and other species. In one account a camel is said to have come to Muhammad and complained that despite service to his owner, the animal was about to be killed. Muhammad summoned the owner and ordered the man to spare the camel. [23]

[edit] Hunting and slaughter

Muhammad limited benefits derived at the cost of animal suffering.[clarify] He asked his followers to sharpen the blade when slaughtering animals.[24] Muhammad is reported to have been said:"For [charity shown to] each creature which has a wet heart(i.e. is alive), there is a reward." [3] Muhammad opposed recreational hunting saying: "whoever shoots at a living creature for sport is cursed."[3] He is also said to have reprimanded some men who were sitting idly on their camels in the marketplace, saying "either ride them or leave them alone". He is also reported to have said: "There is no man who kills [even] a sparrow or anything smaller, without its deserving it, but Allah will question him about it [on the judgment day]," and "Whoever is kind to the creatures of God, is kind to himself." [3] [10]

While it is permitted to kill a cock, Muhammad forbade reviling it "because it performs the religious function of awakening the Faithful at the time of prayer." [10]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Peters, F. E. "The Quest of the Historical Muhammad." International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 23, No. 3. (Aug., 1991), pp. 291-315. F.E. Peters states: "Few have failed to be convinced that what is in our copy of the Quran is, in fact, what Muhammad taught, and is expressed in his own words...To sum this up: the Quran is convincingly the words of Muhammad, perhaps even dictated by him after their recitation"
  2. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,956385,00.html
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature, Islam, Animals, and Vegetarianism
  4. ^ Encyclopedia of the Qur'an, Community and Society and Qur'an, Vol. 1, p.371
  5. ^ Encyclopedia of Science and Religion, Islam,p.464
  6. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,956385,00.html
  7. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2977086.stm
  8. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2977086.stm
  9. ^ Watt, Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman, Oxford University Press, 1961, [1]
  10. ^ a b c Encyclopedia of Islam, Haywan article, p.308, vol.3, p.308
  11. ^ a b c Susan J. Armstrong, Richard G. Botzler, The Animal Ethics Reader, p.237, Routledge (UK) Press
  12. ^ http://www.scholarofthehouse.org/dinistrandna.html Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature, s.v. �Dogs in the Islamic Tradition and Nature.� New York: Continuum International, forthcoming 2004. By: Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl
  13. ^ a b Bruce Fudge, Encyclopedia of the Quran, Dog
  14. ^ David Gordon White, Encyclopedia of religion, Dog, p.2393
  15. ^ Ahmad Ibn Shu‘ayb al-Nisa’i, Sunan al-Nisa’i (Beirut: Dar al-Kitab al-‘Arabi, n.d.), 7: 309 (The commentaries by al-Suyuti and al-Sanadi are in the margins). Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, Fath al-Bari, 4:426. All reported in El Fadl.
  16. ^ Al-Nawawi, Sahih Muslim, 3-4:450-1; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Musnad, 5:194, 197, 202, 208; Abu Bakr Ibn al-‘Arabi, ‘Aridat al-Ahwadhi bi Sharh Sahih al-Tirmidhi (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, n.d.), 1:133. All reported in El-Fadl.
  17. ^ Abu Zakariyya Yahya al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim, 3rd ed. (Beirut: Dar al-Ma‘rifa, 1996), 3-4:174-5 ; Ahmad Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, Fath al-Bari bi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, ed. Muhibb al-Din al-Khatib, 3rd ed. (Cairo: al-Maktaba al-Salafiyya, 1407 AH), 1:331 ; Shams al-Din al-Sarakhsi, Kitab al-Mabsut (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, 1993), 1-2:48. All reported in El-Fadl
  18. ^ Malik Ibn Anas, al-Muwatta’ (Egypt: al-Babi al-Halabi, n.d.), 2:969. Reported in El Fadl
  19. ^ a b Minou Reeves, Muhammad in Europe, New York University (NYU) Press, p.52
  20. ^ Sahih Muslim; Chapter 35 Book 26, Number 5562
  21. ^ Jürgen Wasim Frembgen, Völkerkundemuseum. "The Scorpion in Muslim Folklore". Asian Folklore Studies, Volume 63, 2004: 95-123. Munich, Germany.
  22. ^ Jürgen Wasim Frembgen, Völkerkundemuseum. "The Scorpion in Muslim Folklore". Asian Folklore Studies, Volume 63, 2004: 95-123. Munich, Germany.
  23. ^ Foltz (2006), pg.22-23
  24. ^ P. Aarne Vesilind, Alastair S. Gunn, Engineering, Ethics, and the Environment, Cambridge University Press, p.301

[edit] References

  • El Fadl, Khaled Abou (2004). Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature, s.v. “Dogs in the Islamic Tradition and Nature.” New York:. Continuum International. 
  • Foltz, Richard C. (2006). Animals in Islamic Tradition and Muslim Cultures. Oneworld Publications. ISBN 1-85168-398-4. 
  • Gill, H.A.R.. Shorter Enclyopaedia of Islam. 
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