al-Nabī ﷺ wa Ḥuqūq al-Ḥayawān

Islamic teachings encompass all aspects of life, including the ethical treatment of animals. Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ conveyed comprehensive guidance concerning humanity’s relationship with living creatures, emphasizing compassion, mercy, and justice. In the Qur’ān and sunnah, animals are not regarded merely as commodities or instruments for human use; rather, they are creations of Allah deserving care, dignity, and protection. The teachings of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ concerning animals established moral principles that continue to shape Islamic perspectives on animal welfare and environmental ethics.

The Qur’ān repeatedly highlights the significance of animals as part of Allah’s creation. In Sūrah al-Naḥl (Qur’ān 16:5–8), Allah describes livestock as a source of warmth, sustenance, transportation, and beauty for humankind. These verses acknowledge the benefits humans derive from animals while implying moral responsibility toward them. The Qur’ān further states in Sūrah al-Anʿām (Qur’ān 6:38): “There is no creature on or within the earth or a bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you.” This verse establishes that animals constitute communities with their own divinely ordained place within creation and therefore deserve respect and protection.

The sunnah of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ elaborates upon these Qur’ānic principles through explicit teachings and practical examples. The Prophet ﷺ consistently encouraged kindness toward animals and condemned cruelty and neglect. One narration state: “Whoever is kind to the creatures of God, he is kind to himself” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth