JIHAD SECTION · 47 – DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED TOWARDS ANIMALS
Saḥl ibn Ḥanẓaliyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ encountered a camel whose ribs were showing from hunger and said, “Fear Allah concerning these mute creatures; ride them well-fed, and eat their meat well-fed.”
Abdullah ibn Ja'far, may Allah be pleased with him, related:
One day the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, took me onto his mount and spoke to me a secret which I am forbidden from telling anyone. The most beloved thing for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, as a screen when he relieved himself was a group of tall structures and intertwined date palm trees.
Abdullah said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered the orchard of an Ansari man. And what did he see? There was a camel there. When the camel saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, it brayed, groaned, and tears flowed from its eyes.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, approached the camel and stroked its ear root, and the camel ceased its sound. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Who is the owner of this camel?” A young man from the Ansar came forward and said, "It is mine, O Messenger of Allah."
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Does fear not seize you of Allah, regarding neglect of the right of this beast which Allah has made you its keeper? It complained to me that you truly starve it.”
Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Indeed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "A man was traveling on a road when he became intensely thirsty. He found a well and descended into it, drank water, and then ascended. He saw a dog panting from thirst, its tongue hanging out. The man thought to himself, 'He is experiencing the same thirst as I did.' So he descended back into the well, filled his garment with water, and brought it up. He watered the dog, and Allah forgave him for that deed."
The Companions said: "O Messenger of Allah, are we rewarded for doing good to animals?"
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: “There is reward for every act of kindness done to any creature possessing a heart.”