Nasai

(1) The ruling of the Shariah regarding the ant is that if it causes harm, it may be killed. Any harmful creature may be killed; however, it is especially necessary to ensure that only the one which caused harm is killed. The story of a prophet mentioned in the hadith indicates precisely this point. The principle is that when the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) informs us of a matter from a previous Shariah, then that is also Shariah for us. However, if a ruling contrary to it is found in our Shariah, then the matter from the previous Shariah will not be a proof for us.

(2) It is understood from this that animals also glorify Allah (do tasbih). The Noble Qur’an has clarified to such an extent that the seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them glorify Allah. The meaning is absolutely clear that everything glorifies Allah along with His praise. The statement of Allah is: ﴿تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالأرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ﴾ (Bani Isra’il: 17:44) and it is a fact that every creature indeed glorifies Allah. Some people have tried to interpret the glorification (tasbih) of animals and others in a metaphorical sense, but this is absolutely incorrect.

(3) From the blessed hadith, it is also understood that the noble prophets (alayhimus-salam) also felt pain and were affected by the bites of harmful things just like ordinary humans.

(4) This blessed hadith also establishes that retribution for oppression is not taken only from those with intellect, i.e., sentient beings, but it can also be taken from non-sentient beings for their oppression and excess. And Allah knows best.

(5) Perhaps burning with fire was permissible in their Shariah; in our Shariah, it is prohibited.

(6) The prohibition of killing the ant is evidence of its being unlawful (haram).

Hadith Commentary:
An Example of Incorrect Translation:
It is with great regret that I must say that nowadays our respected scholars are producing numerous translations of Sahih al-Bukhari.
However, in their translations and explanations, there are many errors both in wording and in meaning.
To the extent that, in some places, the meaning of the hadith is one thing, and these gentlemen translate it in the opposite manner.
An example of this is also present here.
The words of the hadith "fa amara bijihazihi fa ukhrija min tahtiha" have been translated in Tafheem al-Bukhari (Deobandi) as follows:
“So he ordered for its hive to be taken out from under the tree. It was taken out.”
This translation is completely incorrect; the correct one is that which we have provided, as is clear to the people of knowledge.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
In previous religious laws, it was permissible to kill an ant and to burn it with fire, because Allah the Exalted said:
“You should have burned only the one ant,” meaning, only the one that caused harm should have been punished. However, in our Shariah, it is not permissible to burn living creatures with fire.
Although it is permissible to kill a harmful animal, burning it with fire is prohibited.
➋
A particular characteristic of the ant is that if it sees even a small thing, it calls other ants and drags it into its nest, and during the summer it gathers food for the winter. When it realizes that a grain or something similar will become foul-smelling, it throws it out.
And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary:

It is said that this prophet passed by a town which Allah the Exalted had completely destroyed. He submitted, "O Lord! In this town there were all kinds of people—guilty and innocent, boys, children, animals, all of them—yet You destroyed them all." Then he stopped under a tree, and an ant bit him. In anger, he burned the entire ant colony. Then Allah the Exalted responded to his submission, "Why did you destroy the innocent ants?"

Imam Bukhari rahimahullah derived from this hadith that it is permissible to punish with fire, as this prophet did. Qastallani rahimahullah said that this hadith is used as evidence by those who consider it permissible to burn a harmful animal. However, in our Shariah, it is prohibited to kill ants and honeybees. (Wahidi)

Hadith Commentary:
➊
This chapter is without a title, as if it is a supplement to the previous chapter.
The connection between them is that one should not exceed the limits in burning; only the deserving should be punished.
It is not permissible to punish an innocent.
In this hadith, it is stated:
If only that ant which had bitten had been burned, the Prophet would not have been reproached, but this reasoning depends on the principle that the previous laws (shari‘ahs) are a proof for us.
(Fath al-Bari: 6/186)
➋
It should be clear that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade killing ants and honey bees, but it is permissible to kill or burn a harmful animal.
(Awn al-Bari: 3/565)
From this hadith, it is understood that all animals glorify Allah (do tasbih).
It is also in the Noble Qur’an:
“Everything glorifies Allah, but you do not understand their glorification.”
(Bani Isra’il 17:44)

Hadith Commentary:
Benefits and Issues:
In Sunan Abi Dawud, there is a narration that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade killing the honeybee, the ant, the hoopoe, and the shrike (latwiyā), which has a thick head, a white belly, and a green back, and preys on small birds.

Hadith Commentary:

Benefits and Issues:
➊ This was a prophet, either Uzair or Musa (alayhima as-salam).
➋ According to the law (shari‘ah) of that time, it would have been permissible to burn a living creature.
➌ Therefore, there was no objection to the act of burning itself.
➍ The objection was raised because only one ant had bitten, so why were the rest of the ants burned?
➎ The ant’s nest must have been under the belongings.
➏ That is why some ants would have been wandering over the belongings.
➐ Therefore, for the protection of his belongings, he separated them.
➑ Then their nest was burned.

Benefits and Issues:
➊ Ants have been referred to as a community that glorifies Allah; in fact, all of Allah’s creation glorifies Him, but their glorification is not comprehensible to us. Allah the Exalted says: (There is not a thing except that it glorifies Him with His praise, but you do not understand their glorification. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing, Forgiving) ().

➋ If a biting ant is killed by a person as a form of punishment, there is some allowance for this; otherwise, in general, it is not permitted.

➌ When it is impermissible to kill an ant without reason, then how can it ever be permissible to kill a believer?

➍ When ants become excessive in a house and cause harm, it is permissible to destroy them using some medicine or the like.

➎ The Prophet mentioned in the hadith, whoever he was, was likely unaware of this ruling, which is why he did this action.

Benefits and Issues:
(1)
One should avoid killing insects; however, those which cause significant harm to humans and apparently bring no benefit, such as mice and the like, it is permissible to kill them.

(2)
Every creature of Allah glorifies and worships Allah.

Explanation of the Hadith:
It is mentioned in "Fath al-Bari" that this Prophet passed by a town which Allah, the Exalted, had completely destroyed. He submitted: O Lord! In this town there were all kinds of people, both guilty and innocent, boys, children, and even animals. You destroyed all of them. Then he descended under the shade of a tree, where an ant bit him. In anger, he burned the entire ant colony. Then Allah, the Exalted, responded to his submission, saying: Why did you destroy the remaining innocent ants as well?

In another narration, it is mentioned that Allah, the Exalted, revealed to him:
«أَنْ قَرْصَتْكَ نَمْلَةٌ أَحْرَقْتَ أُمَّةً مِنَ الْأُمَمِ تُسَبِّحُ اللهَ .»
"You were bitten by one ant, but you burned to ashes a creation that glorifies Allah." [صحيح بخاري، كتاب الجهاد والسير، رقم: 3019]

Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has deduced from this hadith that it is permissible to kill ants when necessary, as this Prophet did.

But remember that this punishment should not be by fire, because there are hadiths prohibiting punishing Allah’s creation with fire.

Also remember that killing an ant without reason is prohibited. Thus, it is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhu that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam forbade the killing of four living creatures: the ant, the honeybee, the hoopoe, and the shrike. [سنن ابو داود، باب فى قتل الذر، رقم: 5267 _ سنن ابن ماجة، رقم: 3224 _ الباني رحمه الله نے اسے صحيح كها هے۔]

The wisdom behind the prohibition of killing these creatures:
* The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam forbade killing the ant because it glorifies Allah. [صحيح بخاري، رقم: 3019]
* Hafiz Ibn Kathir writes that since the hoopoe called to the worship of Allah alone and prevented prostration to other than Allah, its killing is therefore prohibited. [بحواله تيسير الرحمن: 1075/2]
* The honeybee is a sign of Allah’s power, and its honey is a cure. Perhaps for this reason, it has been prohibited to kill it.
* The shrike is called "mamula." It is a small bird with a large head, a white belly, and a green back. It hunts small birds and insects, etc.
* Ibn Majah, as cited by Muhammad Fuad al-Baqi referencing al-Munjid, Ibn Athir rahimahullah said: "It is a bird with a large head and large beak. Its feathers are half white and half black." [النهاية، ماده صرد]
* Mawlana Ataullah Sajid writes: "What is meant by not killing is that it is prohibited to use these things as food." «والله اعلم» [سنن ابن ماجه: 360/4 ، _ مطبوعه دارالسلام، مزيد تفصيل كے ليے ديكهئے: ألارواء: 143/8]

From this, it is understood that Islam has also prescribed rights for animals; therefore, it is not permissible to kill them without reason. However, harmful animals, such as snakes and scorpions, should be killed in all circumstances.