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مسند اسحاق بن راهويه
Musnad Ishaq
كتاب البر و الصلةBook of Righteousness and Maintaining Ties
Caring for animals' needs is obligatory
Hadith 756
اُردوEn
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ، قَالَ: دَخَلَتِ امْرَأَةٌ النَّارَ فِي هِرَّةٍ رَبَطَتْهَا، فَلَمْ تَدَعْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الْأَرْضِ.
Muhammad bin Ja'far narrated with this chain: He said: A woman went to Hell because of a cat; she had tied it up and did not let it go so that it could eat the insects of the earth.
Explanation & Benefits
Hafiz Abdush Shakoor Tirmidhi
Benefits:
From the aforementioned hadith, it is understood that taking care of the needs of animals is obligatory. In fact, even for such animals that are not domesticated by anyone, showing mercy to them brings about the mercy of Allah, as in the case where the sinner was forgiven for giving water to a dog. (See the explanation of Hadith 28)
It is also understood that dealing harshly and mercilessly with animals is something that greatly angers Allah and is an act that leads to Hell. Allahumma hafizna — “O Allah! Protect us.”
Therefore, it is not permissible to oppress any animal, even if it is a harmful animal. It is stated in Sahih al-Bukhari: ((Fī kulli kabidin raṭbah ajr))... “There is a reward for (showing kindness to) every living being with a moist liver,” and this indicates generality.
Maulana Dawood Raz rahimahullah says: The relevance of the aforementioned hadith to the translation of the chapter is that punishment was given for not giving water to a cat. Thus, it is understood that giving water is a virtuous act. Ibn Munir rahimahullah said that it is also derived from this hadith that killing a cat is not permissible. (Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Dawood Raz: 3/505)
From the aforementioned hadith, it is understood that taking care of the needs of animals is obligatory. In fact, even for such animals that are not domesticated by anyone, showing mercy to them brings about the mercy of Allah, as in the case where the sinner was forgiven for giving water to a dog. (See the explanation of Hadith 28)
It is also understood that dealing harshly and mercilessly with animals is something that greatly angers Allah and is an act that leads to Hell. Allahumma hafizna — “O Allah! Protect us.”
Therefore, it is not permissible to oppress any animal, even if it is a harmful animal. It is stated in Sahih al-Bukhari: ((Fī kulli kabidin raṭbah ajr))... “There is a reward for (showing kindness to) every living being with a moist liver,” and this indicates generality.
Maulana Dawood Raz rahimahullah says: The relevance of the aforementioned hadith to the translation of the chapter is that punishment was given for not giving water to a cat. Thus, it is understood that giving water is a virtuous act. Ibn Munir rahimahullah said that it is also derived from this hadith that killing a cat is not permissible. (Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Dawood Raz: 3/505)
Source: Musnad Ishaq bin Rahwayh, Page: 756
