Narrated Ibn `Umar: The Prophet said, "A woman entered the (Hell) Fire because of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth. "
Hadith Referenceصحيح البخاري / كتاب بدء الخلق / 3318
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:أحاديث صحيح البخاريّ كلّها صحيحة
Hadith Commentary: It is understood from this that deliberately causing any harm to the creation is severely reprehensible and a grave sin in the sight of Allah.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 3318
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary: ➊ In a narration from Asma bint Abi Bakr radi Allahu anha, it is mentioned that when the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam performed the prayer during a solar eclipse, the Hellfire was shown to him during it. In it, he saw a woman whom a cat was scratching. Upon his inquiry, the angels informed him that she had imprisoned a cat without any reason until it died of hunger. (Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Musāqāh, Hadith: 2364) ➋ From this hadith, it is understood that causing harm to a cat is a major sin. ➌ Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has narrated this hadith in the context of animals because it mentions a cat. And Allah knows best. The narration of Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu has been transmitted by Imam Muslim rahimahullah with a connected chain. (Sahih Muslim, al-Birr wa al-Silah wa al-Adab, Hadith: 6678(2242))
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 3318