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The Prophet(PBUH)used to prohib it separating the mother from its offspring:
Ibn Mas`ood (a Companion) narrated:
“We were with the Prophet of Al- lah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, on a journey when he drew apart (to answer the call of nature). In his absence, we saw a red bird that had two young ones with it. We caught them and the small red mother bird came, beating the earth with its wings. In the meantime, the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, returned and said: “Who has put this bird to distress on account of its young? Return them to her.’’ The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also noticed an ant-hill which we had burnt up. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked: “Who has set fire to this?’’ We replied, “We have done so.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “None can chastise with fire except the Lord of the fire.”1
Al-Khattaabi (an exegete of Prophetic narrations) said: “The narration is evidence that it is disliked to burn bee hives, while there is no excuse to burn ant-hills since their harm can be avoided without burning them.”2
The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to prohib- it shooting animals with arrows or other weapons:
Anas once saw some boys shooting at a tied hen and said:
“The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbade the shooting of tied or confined animals.IIbn ‘Umar (a Companion) once entered upon Yahya ibn Sa’eed (a Fol- lower;3
belonging to the second generation of Muslims following the com- panions) while one of Yahya’s sons was aiming at a hen after tying it. Ibn ‘Umar walked to it and untied it. Then he brought it and the boy and said: “Prevent your boys from tying the birds for the sake of killing them, as I have heard the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbidding the killing of an animal or any other living thing after tying them.”3 belonging to the second generation of Muslims following the com- panions) while one of Yahya’s sons was aiming at a hen after tying it. Ibn ‘Umar walked to it and untied it. Then he brought it and the boy and said: “Prevent your boys from tying the birds for the sake of killing them, as I have heard the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbidding the killing of an animal or any other living thing after tying them.”4
Sa’eed ibn Jubayr (a Follower;
belonging to the second generation of Muslims following the companions) narrated: “While I was with Ibn ‘Umar we passed by a group of young men who had tied a hen and started shooting at it. When they saw Ibn ‘Umar they dispersed, leaving it. At this, Ibn ‘Umar said: “Who has done this? The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, cursed the one who did so.”5
In another narration Ibn ‘Umar said:
“The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, cursed the one who did Muthlah to an animal (i e., cut its limbs or some other part of its body while it is still alive).”6
Ibn ‘Abbaas (a Companion) narrated
that the Prophet of Allah, sallal- laahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Do not make any living thing a target.”7
Commenting on this, An-Nawawi said: “Meaning, do not take living an-imals as targets to shoot at like you shoot at targets made of leather and so on.
This proves that it is a sin to pin down a living being to use it as a target. This is why Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, cursed the one who does so, as in the narration of Ibn ‘Umar. This is because doing so is a form of torture to the animal that destroys its life, wastes money and causes it to miss out on the chance of being slaughtered (and thus becoming lawful as food) or a means of benefit.”8
المراجع
- Reported by Abu Daawood (2675).
- ‘Awn Al-Ma’bood (240/7).
- Reported by Al-Bukhaari (5513) and Muslim (1956).
- Reported by Al-Bukhaari (5514).
- Reported by Al-Bukhaari (5515) and Muslim (1958).
- Reported by An-Nasaa’i (4442).
- Reported by Muslim (1957).1
- The explanation of An-Nawawi for the book of Muslim (108/13).
