Animals are Amanah (Golden Words of Allah Episode 50)

“The Most Merciful has mercy on those who are merciful to others. Be merciful to those on earth, and the One above the heavens will have mercy upon you.(Sunan Abu Dawood, 4941)

By Abdullahi Yusuf

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All perfect praise is due to Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, the Lord of the Worlds. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and Muhammad (pbuh), is His slave and final Messenger.

Introduction
In Islam, kindness is a thread that runs through the fabric of the Shari’ah, reaching not just family and neighbours but also animals. They are part of Allah’s creation, communities like us. Allah says: “There is no creature on earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you.”(Surah Al-An’am 6:38)

Animals are not lifeless objects or property without consequence—they feel hunger, thirst, pain, and fear. And Allah, in His infinite justice, holds us accountable for how we treat them.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) narrated striking examples: “A woman was punished in Hell because of a cat which she had confined. She did not give it food or drink when it was confined, nor did she free it so that it could eat from the insects of the earth.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3318)

Contrast this with another Hadith: “While a man was walking on a road, he became extremely thirsty. He found a well, went down into it, drank, and came out. Then he saw a dog panting and eating mud out of thirst. The man said, ‘This dog has suffered thirst just as I did.’ So he went back down the well, filled his shoe with water, held it in his mouth, climbed out, and gave the dog water. Allah appreciated his action and forgave him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2363)

The Prophet concluded: “In every living being there is a reward.”

To own a pet in Islam is a trust (amanah). It is not enough to keep an animal for company or display. Feeding them, giving them proper shelter, medical care, and not overburdening or harming them are all Islamic duties.

Animals should never be struck on the face, cursed, or used for entertainment in cruel ways. The Prophet (peace be upon him) strictly forbade using animals as targets for practice.

A merciful heart sees beyond species. Whether it’s feeding a stray, tending a pet, or simply letting a bird drink from your garden—these are deeds that can open the doors of Allah’s mercy. “The Most Merciful has mercy on those who are merciful to others. Be merciful to those on earth, and the One above the heavens will have mercy upon you.” (Sunan Abu Dawood, 4941)

And Allah knows best.

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