This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ﴾
"And there is no creature on earth or bird that flies with its two wings except that they are communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered."
Reference: (6-Al-An'am:38)
﴿وَالْأَنْعَامَ خَلَقَهَا ۗ لَكُمْ فِيهَا دِفْءٌ وَمَنَافِعُ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ . وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا جَمَالٌ حِينَ تُرِيحُونَ وَحِينَ تَسْرَحُونَ .وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَالَكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍ لَّمْ تَكُونُوا بَالِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ الْأَنفُسِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾ .
"And He created the cattle for you; in them is warmth and numerous benefits, and of them you eat. And there is beauty in them for you when you bring them home in the evening and when you lead them out in the morning. And they carry your loads to lands you could not have reached except with great difficulty. Indeed, your Lord is Kind and Merciful."
Reference: (16-An-Nahl:5 to 7)
In these verses, Allah the Exalted mentions animals and cattle and explains their benefits. And in the end, Allah Almighty mentions His kindness and mercy. This points to the fact that just as your Lord created these creatures for your benefit and showed mercy upon you, O mankind! You must also show mercy to them. Consider them voiceless and do not cause them pain, do not put them to unnecessary hardship. Take special care of their comfort and food. When you observe their rights and show mercy to them, as a result, Allah Almighty will take care of you and have mercy on you.
عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: بينما رجل يمشي بطريق، اشتد عليه العطش، فوجد بئرا فنزل فيها فشرب، خرج، فإذا كلب يلهث يأكل الثرى من العطش، فقال الرجل: لقد بلغ هذا الكلب من العطش مثل الذى كان بلغ مني، فنزل البئر فملأ خفه ماء ثم أمسكه بفيه، حتى رقي فسقى الكلب، فشكر الله له، فغفر له .
Narrated by Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA), the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: A man was walking on a road and became very thirsty. He found a well, so he went down into it and drank water, then came out. There was a dog nearby, panting and licking mud because of thirst. The man said: This dog is suffering from thirst just as I was severely affected by it. So he went down into the well again, filled his shoe with water, held it in his mouth, climbed up, and gave the dog water to drink. Allah appreciated his act and intention and forgave him."
(Upon hearing this) the Companions (RA) asked, O Messenger of Allah! Is there reward for us even in cattle? He (PBUH) said: في كل كبد رطبة أجر .
(Yes) There is reward for every living being with a moist liver (i.e., every living creature).
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Agriculture, Chapter on the Virtue of Giving Water, No: 2363 - Sahih Muslim, Book of Peace, Chapter on the Virtue of Giving Water and Feeding Animals, No: 2244.
Narrated by Sayyidina Abu Huraira (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
بينما كلب يطيف بركية قد كاد يقتله العطش، إذ رأته بغي من بغايا بني إسرائيل، فنزعت موقها، فاستقت له به، فسقته فغفر لها به .
"A dog was circling around a well, almost dying of thirst, when suddenly a woman from the immoral women of Bani Israel saw it. She took off her stocking, drew water with it from the well, and gave the dog to drink. Because of this act, she was forgiven."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Prophetic Traditions, No: 3467 - Sahih Muslim, No: 2245.
From this, it is understood that if Allah the Exalted shows mercy for showing mercy to birds, He also punishes for troubling them:
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: عذبت امرأة فى هرة ربطتها حتى ماتت، فدخلت فيها النار، لا هي أطعمتها وسقتها، إذ حبستها، ولا هي تركتها تأكل من خشاش الأرض .
Narrated by Sayyidina Ibn Umar (RA), the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "A woman was punished because of a cat. She had confined it until it died. So she went to Hell because of it. She neither fed it nor gave it water while it was confined, nor did she let it go to eat the insects of the earth."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, or the last Book of Prophets, No: 3482 - Sahih Muslim, Book of Peace, Chapter on the Prohibition of Killing Cats, No: 2243.
