Animal Rights and Environmental Protection in Islam

By: Hassan Taha

1- Muslims believe that Islam is the complete way of life because it guides them in all aspects of life. God created every thing for the benefit of mankind. But this doesn't mean that man owns everything. We have to use the resources that God created for us wisely and proportionately.

All animals were created for a purpose. Peoples’ attitudes towards animals differ. While some people prefer children to pets, others prefer the latter to the former. As customary, Islam is always moderate.

2- Animals and man: if animals can't reason, can't talk, can they suffer? In 1926, Charles Hume founded the London Animal Society (later named the University Federation for Animal Welfare), which eventually made people think rationally about the suffering of animals.

3 -Human Domination over other creatures: God says: "And He has made of service to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth; it is all from Him; in that are indeed signs for those who reflect." (45:13)

It is the responsibility of human beings to make use of whatever God has created for them in a responsible manner. Since all things have been created for our benefit, it behooves us to do the following:

(a)Protect everything from damage i.e. care and nurture. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says: "No one plants a seedling or farms a land and after that, humans, animals and birds eat therefrom, except that God will reward him as though he gave it in charity." (Muslim)

(b) sustainable utilization and development for our benefit in keeping with their dignity as God's creation. God says: "There is not a thing but celebrates His praise and yet you understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft-Forbearing, Most Forgiving." (17:44)

(c ) thanking God for such blessings in a practical manner. God says: "if ye are grateful, I will add more (favors) unto you. But if you show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed." (14:07)

(d) Putting into consideration that we all share many of the blessings of God. God says: "… and the earth moreover has He extended (to a wide expanse); He draws out therefrom its moisture and pasture, and the mountains has He firmly fixed – for use and convenience to you and your cattle." (79:30-33)

(e) keeping in mind that they are of great benefit to us. We read in the Qur'an: "And He has created horses, mules, and donkeys for

you to ride on as well as for adornment, and He has created

other things of which you have no knowledge." (16:08)

(f) meditation, consideration and contemplation: God says: "Do they not look at the camels, how they are made? And the sky how it is raised high? – and at the earth how it is spread out." (88:17-20)

4 -Code of conduct towards animals:)a( Treat them with kindness and

consideration: Prophet Muhammad ordered his companions when traveling to let their camels graze. He said: "When you are journeying through a fertile land, go slowly in order to let your camels graze. When you pass through a barren and dry land, go quickly so that your animals don't get hungry and weak." (Muslim)

(d) Our treatment of animals will eventually determine our fate in the

Hereafter: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told his companions of a woman who was destined to hell

because of incarcerating a cat in a cage; she never fed it nor did she let

it go. (Bukhari) On the other hand, a woman was forgiven her sins

because of watering a dog. (Bukhari)

(e) Avoid using them as targets: When Ibn Umar visited Yahya bin Said, he

found the latter's sons aiming at a hen after tying it up. He untied the hen and

then said to Yahya: "Prevent your sons from tying this hen in order to kill it. For I have heard the Prophet forbidding killing

animals or other living things." (Bukhari)

Environmental Protection

2- Prophet's advice to Muslim soldiers before any military expedition: “Fight only against your enemy and not against women, children or elderly people. Monks, priests and other religious people in their monasteries or houses of worship should not be harmed. Trees that belong to the enemy should not be cut or set on fire. …

… B y no means should animals be targeted or slaughtered except for food.”

3- Over exploitation, abuse, misuse, destruction and pollution of natural resources are all transgressions against the divine scheme. (21:16)

4 -Elements of Nature:

)a (Water: God says: "We made from water every living thing." (21:30) Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Muslims should share the following three things viz. water, pasture and fire." (Muwatta'a Ma'lik)

**Do not waste water (Prophet's advice to Saad)

)b (Air: all terrestrial creatures are utterly dependent on the air they breath. Apart from inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide, the air has other functions as well. God says: "… and We sent the fertilizing winds." (15:22)

)c ( Land and Soil: Humans cannot achieve any development without land. (from where do we get minerals?) God says: "… and the earth, moreover, has He extended (to a wide expanse) … for use and convenience to you and your

cattle." (79:30 - 33)

(d) Plants and animals: they are living things of great benefit to us. God says:

"Then let man consider his nourishment: that We pour down the rain in showers, and We split the earth in fragments, and

therein make the grain to grow, and vines and herbs, and olives and palms, and

gardens of dense foliage, and fruits and fodder – provision for you and your

cattle." (80:24)

I would like to conclude with this quote:

“The fruit of silence is Prayer, the fruit of Prayer is Faith, the fruit of Faith is Love, the Fruit of Love is service and the fruit of Service is Peace.”

Mother Teresa

References:

1- “Thus shall I stand before God” by Hassan Hathout

2- “Politics and Development” by Lan Skeet

3- www.Islamonline.com

We should be grateful to God We should be grateful to God and use His blessings to us and use His blessings to us

wisely.wisely.

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