Abu Dawud

Hadith Commentary: Some types of household snakes are harmless. The ones referred to in the Prophetic command are those very snakes. The mention of Abu Lubabah refers to the Badri Companion.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
Abu Lubabah Bashir bin Abd al-Mundhir was a Badri Companion (radi Allahu anhu).
He was, for some reason, unable to participate directly in the Battle of Badr; however, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) included him in the spoils of war and its reward.
(Fath al-Bari: 7/400)
➋
Generally, white and slender snakes appear in houses, and the jinn assume their form and appearance.
For this reason, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade killing them:
(Sunan Abi Dawud, al-Adab, Hadith: 5256)
➌
From some ahadith, it is understood that they should be given a warning for three days; if they do not leave, then permission is granted to kill them.
And Allah knows best.

Explanation:
1:
That is, there is such venom in both of them that whoever sees them becomes blind, and a pregnant woman miscarries.

2:
This prohibition is because they could also be jinn or devils (shayatin). Before killing them, one should give them a warning three times to leave or to change their form. If they do not leave or do not change their form, then, in light of the hadith narrated from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, they may be killed.

3:
Zayd ibn al-Khattab was the elder brother of Umar ibn al-Khattab (radi Allahu anhuma). He accepted Islam before Umar (radi Allahu anhu), participated in Badr and other battles, and only one hadith is narrated from him, which is related to not killing the snakes that reside in houses.

Benefits and Issues:

➊
By “striped snake” is meant a particular type of snake that has two stripes on its back.

➋
By “short-tailed snake” is meant a snake whose tail is not tapered like other snakes, but rather it appears as if its tail has been cut off.

➌
These snakes are more venomous.
Their bite can cause a person to lose their eyesight,
and a woman’s pregnancy can be miscarried.

➍
Many types of snakes are not venomous; it is not necessary to kill them.

➎
If a snake is seen in the house, it should be warned:
“Go away, otherwise we will kill you.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salam, Chapter: Killing Snakes and Others, Hadith: 2236)
If it is a jinn, it will leave.
Otherwise, it should be killed.

➏
In the hadith of Sahih Muslim, it is stated: (Harijū ‘alayhā thalāthan)
(reference as above)
Its explanation has been given in two ways:
One is that it should be warned three times.
If it is still seen after that, then kill it. (Fath al-Bari: 6/420)