Animal Rights

1. Animal Rights and Environmental
Protection in Islam
By: Hassan Taha

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Human Domination over other - 3
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

6. (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)

7. (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)

8. (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)

9. (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)

10. (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)

11. (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)

12. :Code of conduct towards animals- 4
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

13. (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)

14. (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)

15. Environmental Protection

16. 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. …

17. … 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)

18. :Elements of Nature- 4
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

19. 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

20. 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

21. )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(

22. 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

23. References:
1- “Thus shall I stand before God” by
Hassan Hathout
2- “Politics and Development” by Lan
Skeet
3- www.Islamonline.com

24. We should bbee ggrraatteeffuull ttoo GGoodd
aanndd uussee HHiiss bblleessssiinnggss ttoo uuss
wwiisseellyy..
!! TThhaannkk yyoouu ffoorr aatttteennddiinngg