Ibn Hibban

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates this statement of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him: "Once a man was walking on a path when he felt extremely thirsty. He found a well and went down into it. He drank water from it, and when he came out, he saw a dog panting. The dog was licking the earth due to severe thirst. The man thought, 'This dog must be as thirsty as I was.' He went down into the well, filled his sock with water, then held the sock in his mouth and climbed up. He gave the dog water to drink. Allah Almighty accepted this deed of his and forgave him." The people asked, "O Messenger of Allah! Will we be rewarded for (showing kindness to) animals?" The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "There is a reward for showing kindness to every living being."