Prohibition of punishment by fire, cruelty to animals, and inflicting torment on people

This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hussain bin Mubarak Al-Mosuli's Arabic book Al-Awamir wal-Nawahi, which has been translated into Urdu by Muhammad Sarwar Gohar Sahib under the title Ahkamat o Mamnooat.

Prohibition of Burning Ants, Lice, etc.​

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① Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه narrates, we were traveling with the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, and he صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم went away for some need. We saw a hamerah (a bird like a sparrow with a red head) with two chicks. We caught both of its chicks, so the hamerah came and spread its wings (meaning it was anxiously falling to the ground). The Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came and said:
من فجع هذه بولدها؟ ردوا ولدها إليها
"Who has troubled it because of its children? Return its children to it."
And the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم saw an anthill which they had burned. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم asked:
من حرق هذه؟
"Who has burned it?"
We said, we did. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
إنه لا ينبغي أن يعذب بالنار إلا رب النار
"The punishment of fire can only be given by the Lord of the fire; no one else is worthy of this."

Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Jihad 2675.

Prohibition of Punishment by Fire​

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① Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم sent us on an expedition and said:
إن وجدتم فلانا وفلانا — لرجلين من قريش سماهما — فأحرقوهما بالنار
"If you find so-and-so (he named two men from Quraysh), burn them with fire."
Then (at the time of departure) the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
إن وجدتموهما فاقتلوهما
"If you find these two, then kill them (meaning do not burn them with fire)."

Reference: Bukhari, Book of Jihad and Expeditions 2954. Tirmidhi 1571, Musnad Ahmad 411/2.

Prohibition of inflicting torment on people​

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① Sayyiduna Hisham bin Hakim bin Hizam رضي الله عنه narrates, I passed by some people in the land of Sham who were standing in the sun and oil was poured on their heads. I asked: What is this? It was told that they were being punished in connection with the tax. So I said: I heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
إن الله يعذب الذين يعذبون فى الدنيا
"May Allah afflict those people with punishment who cause punishment in this world."
The narrator states, at that time Umair bin Saad رضي الله عنه was their leader and he was in Palestine. I went to him and narrated this incident, so he ordered to release them.

Reference: Muslim, Kitab al-Birr wa al-Silah wa al-Adab 2613/117. Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Kharaj wa al-Imara wa al-Fi' 3045.

Prohibition of Inciting Animals to Fight​

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① Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم forbade inciting animals to fight.

Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Jihad 2562, Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Jihad 1708.