Mukhtasar Muslim (Abridged) 1499 — Killing snakes

´Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with them) says that` we were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in a cave when Surah "Wal-Mursalat 'Urfa" was revealed to him. We were listening to this Surah fresh from the blessed mouth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when suddenly a snake appeared. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Kill it. We rushed to kill it, but it got ahead of us (i.e., it hid). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Allah Almighty saved it from your hands just as He saved you from its harm.