Be Kind and Merciful to Animals

The Prophet (peace and Blessings upon him) said that he who is kind and merciful towards animals, Allah will be kind and merciful towards him.

Even when Killing an animal for food, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) informed us to sharpen the knife well before cutting the throat of the animal, and to kill it quickly, and in a manner least distressing to the animal. Also that we should never kill an animal for food in front of another animal, so as not to cause distress to the other animal.

Again, it is forbidden in Islam to kill an animal for mere play. Islam has forbidden wastage of animals and plants in peacetime and in war time.

In one of the travels of the prophet (peace and blessings upon him), one of his companions removed baby pigeons from a nest, the mother hovered over his head, seeing this he inquired from his companions if they knew who had taken her chicks, he (peace and blessings upon him) then returned the chicks to their nest in kindness and mercy to the pigeon.

Another tradition of the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) is that whoever kills a bird for amusement, that bird will ask Allah to extract justice from the killer on the day of judgment, and will say My Lord, this person has killed me without good cause and for no benefit to anyone, so give me justice .
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