Orders to kill snakes, chameleons, lizards, throw stones, and kill animals

Instructions Regarding Killing Snakes

① Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

اقتلوا الحيات واقتلوا ذا الطفيتين والأبتر فإنهما يطمسان البصر ويستسقطان الحبل

“Kill snakes, especially those with two dots and those with a cut tail, because they cause blindness and miscarriage.”

② Sayyiduna Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

اقتلوا الحيات كلهن فمن خاف ثأرهن فليس مني

“Kill all kinds of snakes, so whoever fears their revenge (and does not kill them) is not one of me.”

Instructions Regarding Killing Chameleons and Lizards

① It is narrated from Sayyida Umm Shareek رضي الله عنها that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ordered her to kill the chameleon/lizard and said:

كان ينفخ علىٰ إبراهيم

“It used to blow fire on Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام.”

② Sayyidina Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

من قتل وزغة فى أول ضربة فله كذا وكذا حسنة ، ومن قتلها فى الضربة الثانية فله كذا وكذا حسنة دون الأولىٰ ، وفي الثالثة دون ذٰلك

“Whoever kills a chameleon/lizard with the first strike will receive so many good deeds, and whoever kills it with the second strike will receive fewer good deeds than the first strike, and the third strike will have even fewer.”

Prohibition of Throwing Hot Coals

① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Maghfal رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم forbade throwing pebbles with the index finger and thumb and said:

إنه لا يقتل الصيد ولا ينكأ العدو وإنما يفقأ العين ويكسر السن

“This neither kills the prey nor injures the enemy, rather it bursts the eye and breaks the tooth.”

Prohibition of Killing Animals

① Sayyiduna Jabir رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم forbade killing any livestock by tying them up.

② Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

لا تتخذوا شيئا فيه روح غرضا

“Do not aim at any living creature.”

③ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما says that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

لعن الله من اتخذ الروح غرضا

“May Allah curse the one who ties up a living creature and then aims at it.”