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Islam and
Animals
a brief explanation by
Mohammad Ohid
Every living thing on the face of this Earth, is a
unique creation of Allah (Subhaana Wa’ Taala). The
plants, animals, and microbes that make up our
environment are entitled to life by their Creator. We
humans should never abuse or mistreat any living
thing; we have set boundaries given to us by Allah to
eat from that which He made lawful, and to protect
ourselves from certain creatures that could harm us
but not to transgress beyond that. People kill other
animals for marketing purposes like elephants for
ivory, and tigers for fur. This is an act of selfish
injustice that man will be accountable for on Yawm
Al Qiyamah. The animals Allah has made halal for us
to kill are only for having as food and sustenance.
One thing we fail to realize is that, although they
might not have the mental capacity as us, animals do
have feelings. All living things have a sense of
community as mentioned in the Quran in Surah Al
An'am the sixth Surah in verse thirtyeight : “There is
not an animal that lives on the earth, nor a being that
flies on its wings, but they form communities like you.
Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they all
shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.” These
living things that we humans mistreat are also our
fellow Muslims in the sense that they live in the way
that Allah created them to live, and obey Allah's laws
in the natural world. Although animals do not have
"All living things
have a sense of
community as
mentioned in
the Quran."
free will, they follow their natural, Godgiven
instincts and in that sense they "submit to God's
will," Islam. The proof for this is evident in
Surah AnNur the twentyfourth Surah in verse
fortyone: “Do you not see that it is Allah Whose
praise all beings in the heavens and on earth do
celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings
outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of)
prayer and praise, and Allah knows well all that
they do.” From these verses we can understand
that all living things have a connection to the
larger physical and spiritual world and that their
lives are valuable as well. The conclusion we
must draw from this as Muslims is that we are
supposed to exist in communion and harmony
with all the living things around us, as Allah
reminds us in Surah ArRahman the fiftyfifth
Surah in verse ten: "And the earth, He has
assigned it to all living creatures."
Mohammad Ohid is currently a student at the
University of Michigan, studying Computer
Engineering. His hobbies include football,
basketball and soccer and he is an avid fitness guru.
In addition, he is a captain in the MUNA
Community Basketball League and loves getting
involved in his local youth groups.
A MUNA Youth Publication