Sayyiduna Suraqah bin Malik bin Ju'sham (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I went to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) during the illness in which he passed away. I began asking him questions, to the extent that I no longer remember what all I kept asking him. Someone said: Recall any question and tell us. He said: I had asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), "O Messenger of Allah! A lost animal comes to my pond, which I have filled for my camels. If I give it water to drink, will I get a reward for it?" The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Yes! There is a reward for quenching the thirst of every living being with a burning thirst.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / كتاب الاشربة / 7436
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«حديث صحيح، أخرجه ابن ماجه: 3686، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 17587 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 17730»
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … The human being is indeed very exalted; to give him water to drink is certainly a cause for forgiveness and reward. However, this forgiveness, reward, and recompense is also attained when one treats animals well and gives them water to drink.