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الفتح الربانی
Fath al-Rabbani
مسائل القتل والجرائم الأخرى وأحكام الدماءIssues of Killing, Other Crimes, and Blood Laws
باب النهي عَنْ قَبل حَيَّاتِ البيوتِ إِلَّا بَعْدَ تَحْذِيرِهَا إلا الْأَبْتَر وَذَا الطميتينِ فَإِنَّهُمَا يُقتلانChapter: Prohibition of killing house snakes except after warning them, except the short-tailed and two-striped, for they are to be killed
Hadith 6501
اُردوEn
وَمِنْ طَرِيقٍ ثَانٍ عَنْ صَيْفِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: وَجَدَ رَجُلٌ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ حَيَّةً فَأَخَذَ رُمْحَهُ فَشَكَّهَا فِيهِ فَلَمْ تَمُتِ الْحَيَّةُ حَتَّى مَاتَ الرَّجُلُ، فَأُخْبِرَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: ((إِنَّ مَعَكُمْ عَوَامِرَ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ مِنْهُمْ شَيْئًا فَحَرِّجُوا عَلَيْهِ ثَلَاثًا، فَإِنْ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَاقْتُلُوهُ))
(Second Chain) It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, that a man saw a snake in his house and he pierced it with a spear, but the snake did not die, until that man himself passed away. When the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was informed of this incident, he said: Among you, there are also jinn inhabiting the houses, so when you see any of them, create difficulty for them for three days. If you still see them after three days, then kill them.
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … In these blessed ahadith, it is prohibited to kill household snakes, except for two types of snakes which are excluded—meaning, they should be killed in every case.
The wording in Sahih Muslim is as follows: The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ((فَإِذَا رَأَیْتُمْ مِنْہُمْ شَیْئًا فَآذِنُوہُ ثَلَاثَۃَ أَیَّامٍ فَإِنْ بَدَا لَکُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِکَ فَاقْتُلُوہُ فَإِنَّمَا ہُوَ شَیْطَانٌ۔)) … “When you see any of these household snakes, then inform it for three days. If it appears to you after that, then kill it, for it is indeed a shaytan.”
Another narration in Sahih Muslim states: The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ((إِنَّ لِہَذِہِ الْبُیُوتِ عَوَامِرَ فَإِذَا رَأَیْتُمْ شَیْئًا مِنْہَا فَحَرِّجُوا عَلَیْہَا ثَلَاثًا فَإِنْ ذَہَبَ وَإِلَّا فَاقْتُلُوہُ فَإِنَّہُ کَافِرٌ۔)) … “Indeed, there are inhabitants (from the jinn) in these houses, so when you see any of them, then put them in difficulty for three (days). If it leaves, then fine, otherwise kill it, for it is a disbeliever.”
The snakes that live in houses generally do not harm the household members, not even biting children. The command not to kill them is based on the possibility that they may be a type of jinn, and it is not permissible to kill the jinn. Furthermore, the reason for killing is harm; when they do not harm us, why should we harm them? However, snakes that live outside populated areas are harmful, so they should be killed immediately.
By “putting in difficulty” and “informing,” it is meant that one should say to it: “For you, there is difficulty from us; if you do not leave or if you return, then we will pursue you, drive you away, or kill you, and thus put you in difficulty.” Furthermore, this kind of approach can be adopted to inform it.
If we look at the temperament and haste of individuals in our society, acting upon these blessed ahadith seems quite difficult, because nowadays, if a snake is seen in a house, all the members of the household will remain restless and will not sit or sleep in peace until that snake is killed. Nevertheless, if one has complete faith in the statements of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, then acting upon such commands becomes easy. The real Protector is Allah Ta’ala alone. See hadith number (6500): according to it, the young man who tried to kill the snake thinking it was a snake, he himself died, because that snake was actually a jinn.
The wording in Sahih Muslim is as follows: The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ((فَإِذَا رَأَیْتُمْ مِنْہُمْ شَیْئًا فَآذِنُوہُ ثَلَاثَۃَ أَیَّامٍ فَإِنْ بَدَا لَکُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِکَ فَاقْتُلُوہُ فَإِنَّمَا ہُوَ شَیْطَانٌ۔)) … “When you see any of these household snakes, then inform it for three days. If it appears to you after that, then kill it, for it is indeed a shaytan.”
Another narration in Sahih Muslim states: The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ((إِنَّ لِہَذِہِ الْبُیُوتِ عَوَامِرَ فَإِذَا رَأَیْتُمْ شَیْئًا مِنْہَا فَحَرِّجُوا عَلَیْہَا ثَلَاثًا فَإِنْ ذَہَبَ وَإِلَّا فَاقْتُلُوہُ فَإِنَّہُ کَافِرٌ۔)) … “Indeed, there are inhabitants (from the jinn) in these houses, so when you see any of them, then put them in difficulty for three (days). If it leaves, then fine, otherwise kill it, for it is a disbeliever.”
The snakes that live in houses generally do not harm the household members, not even biting children. The command not to kill them is based on the possibility that they may be a type of jinn, and it is not permissible to kill the jinn. Furthermore, the reason for killing is harm; when they do not harm us, why should we harm them? However, snakes that live outside populated areas are harmful, so they should be killed immediately.
By “putting in difficulty” and “informing,” it is meant that one should say to it: “For you, there is difficulty from us; if you do not leave or if you return, then we will pursue you, drive you away, or kill you, and thus put you in difficulty.” Furthermore, this kind of approach can be adopted to inform it.
If we look at the temperament and haste of individuals in our society, acting upon these blessed ahadith seems quite difficult, because nowadays, if a snake is seen in a house, all the members of the household will remain restless and will not sit or sleep in peace until that snake is killed. Nevertheless, if one has complete faith in the statements of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, then acting upon such commands becomes easy. The real Protector is Allah Ta’ala alone. See hadith number (6500): according to it, the young man who tried to kill the snake thinking it was a snake, he himself died, because that snake was actually a jinn.
