Ikrimah says: It is my understanding that Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated in a marfu’ (attributed to the Prophet) manner that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the killing of snakes and said: Whoever leaves them out of fear of their retaliation is not from among us. Then Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: Indeed, snakes are deformed forms of jinn, just as the Children of Israel were deformed into the shapes of monkeys.