Search
The Prophet of Allah,(PBUH )used to be kind to cats, feed them and give them water
Aa`ishah (the wife of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,) narrated:
‘“The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would put a bowl of water for the cat to drink from, and then perform ablution from the leftover water after the cat had finished.
”1
In another narration, ‘Aa`ishah said:
“The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “It [i.e. the cat] is not impure. It goes around and repeatedly enters people’s houses seeking food.” I have seen the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, performing ablution using the leftover water after the cat drank from it.
”2
Kabshah continued, “He saw me looking at him and asked me, ‘Are you surprised?’ I said:
‘Yes’. He then reported the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alay- hi wa sallam, as saying: “It is not impure [in the ritual sense]; it is one of those [males or females] who repeatedly go round among your houses.
”3
Commenting on this narration, Al-Baghawi (an eminent Muslim schol- ar) said: “It is possible that the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, likened cats to slaves who frequently go around to serve and clean the house, as in the saying of Allah The Almighty
(which means):
«...for they continually circulate among you...»
[Quran: 24: 58]
It is possible that the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, likened cats to people who go around asking people for things they need, and thus the reward in caring for cats is like that of condol- ing these needy people.”4
المراجع
- Reported by At-Tabaraani (7949).
- Reported by Abu Daawood (76).
- Reported by Abu Daawood (75), At-Tirmithi (92), An-Nasaa`i (86) and Ibn Maajah (367).
- Sharh As-Sunnah (70/2) summarized.
