Source: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani – Ahkām wa Masā’il: In the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to kill a harmful cat in Islam?
Some people claim that killing a cat brings harm, while others cite the ḥadīth about a woman entering Hell for killing a cat. Please explain the correct ruling in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
❖ Answer:
A cat is a non-harmful animal that commonly roams around homes. Islam regards it as non-najis (pure) and does not classify it among harmful creatures.
◈ Status of a Cat in Islam:
The Prophet ﷺ said regarding cats:
“It is among those (creatures) that roam among you frequently.”
(Abū Dāwūd: 75, Bāb fī Masḥ al-Hirrah; Tirmidhī: 92)
Due to this frequent interaction with humans, cats often drink or eat from various utensils. Islam does not consider such utensils impure.
❖ Killing or Torturing Cats is Ḥarām:
Killing a cat, torturing it, or beating it is prohibited (ḥarām).
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar and Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنهما, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“A woman was punished and entered Hell because of a cat. She imprisoned it until it died. She neither fed it nor allowed it to eat from the earth’s insects.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2242; Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2365)
Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله stated:
“This ḥadīth proves the prohibition of killing a cat or imprisoning it without food or water.”
(Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 14/201)
Ibn al-Munayyir wrote:
“This ḥadīth indicates the prohibition of killing any living being that has not been commanded to be killed—even if it is only a cat—especially by thirst or neglect.”
(Fatḥ al-Bārī: 5/42)
✅ Permissible Killing: Only for Harmful Creatures
However, harming or killing dangerous and harmful creatures is allowed. Examples include:
- Scorpions
- Mice
- Rabid or attacking dogs
Qāḍī ʿIyāḍ رحمه الله, while explaining another ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه, said:
“This proves the permissibility of killing all harmful creatures.”
(Fatḥ al-Bārī: 6/402)
✅ Final Verdict:
- ❌ Killing or torturing non-harmful animals (like cats) is strictly prohibited and leads to Hellfire.
- ✔ Killing harmful animals is permitted in Islam, based on clear prophetic guidance.
- ❗ Acts of cruelty—especially denying food, drink, or freedom to animals—are major sins in Islam.
