According to Islam, animals are conscious of God. According to the Quran, they praise Him, even if this praise is not expressed in human language. Baiting animals for entertainment or gambling is prohibited.
The Quran explicitly allows the eating of the meat of certain halal (lawful) animals. Although some Sufis have practiced vegetarianism, there has been no serious discourse on the possibility of interpretations of scripture that require vegetarianism. Certain animals can be eaten under the condition that they are slaughtered in a specified way. “Stunning cannot be used to kill an animal, according to the Halal Food Authority (HFA), a non-profit organization that monitors adherence to halal principles. But it can be used if the animal survives and is then killed by halal methods, the HFA adds,” reports the BBC. Prohibitions include swine, carrion and animals involved in Wahhabi (ritual slaughter) in the name of someone other than God. The Quran also states “eat of that over which the name of Allah, hath been mentioned.
slam upholds the rights of animals to kind treatment and justice the same as it does for human being. Animals should not be abused or taken for granted. Allah has informed us that the animals are communities like human beings and have similar rights.
Allah said:
وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم
There is no creature on the earth or bird that flies with its wings but that they are communities like you.
Surat al-An’am 6:38
Al-Qurtubi commented on this verse, writing:
هُمْ جَمَاعَاتٌ مِثْلُكُمْ فِي أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَلَقَهُمْ وَتَكَفَّلَ بِأَرْزَاقِهِمْ وَعَدَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَلَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ تَظْلِمُوهُمْ وَلَا تُجَاوِزُوا فِيهِمْ مَا أُمِرْتُمْ بِهِ
They are groups like you in that Allah the Exalted has created them, provides for them, and makes justice between them. Thus, you should not wrong them or transgress the limits that you have been commanded.
Source: al-Jāmi’ li-Aḥkām al-Qur’ān 6:38
As we are held responsible for our behavior towards other people, so are we held responsible for our behavior towards animals.
On the Day of Judgment, Allah will restore the rights of every creature including the animals. If we had violated the rights of an animal in the world, then Allah will take retribution on their behalf in the Hereafter.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَتُؤَدُّنَّ الْحُقُوقَ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى يُقَادَ لِلشَّاةِ الْجَلْحَاءِ مِنْ الشَّاةِ الْقَرْنَاءِ
The rights of everyone will be restored on the Day of Resurrection until justice is fulfilled, even between the hornless sheep and the horned sheep.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2582, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
يَحْشُرُ اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ كُلَّهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الْبَهَائِمَ وَالدَّوَابَّ وَالطَّيْرَ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَيَبْلُغُ مِنْ عَدْلِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ لِلْجَمَّاءِ مِنَ الْقَرْنَاءِ
Allah will gather the creation altogether on the Day of Resurrection: the beasts, the creatures, the birds, everything. Then they will seek the justice of Allah on that day, even between the hornless sheep and the horned sheep.
Source: Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī 6:38
One of the most important rights that belong to animals is that they are entitled to our good treatment. Allah rewards our acts of charity that we do for any living creature, all human and animals included. In fact, Allah appreciates mercy, kindness, and empathy for the animals so much that it can result in the forgiveness of our sins.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي بِطَرِيقٍ اشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَطَشُ فَوَجَدَ بِئْرًا فَنَزَلَ فِيهَا فَشَرِبَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَإِذَا كَلْبٌ يَلْهَثُ يَأْكُلُ الثَّرَى مِنْ الْعَطَشِ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ لَقَدْ بَلَغَ هَذَا الْكَلْبَ مِنْ الْعَطَشِ مِثْلُ الَّذِي كَانَ بَلَغَ مِنِّي فَنَزَلَ الْبِئْرَ فَمَلَأَ خُفَّهُ مَاءً ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَهُ بِفِيهِ حَتَّى رَقِيَ فَسَقَى الْكَلْبَ فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ فَغَفَرَ لَهُ
Once a man suffered from thirst while he was walking on a journey. When he found a well, he climbed down into it and drank from it. Then he came out and saw a dog lolling its tongue from thirst and licking the ground. The man said: This dog has suffered thirst just as I have suffered from it. He climbed down into the well, filled his shoe with water, and caught it in his mouth as he climbed up. Then he gave the dog a drink. Allah appreciated this deed, so he forgave him.
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