Etiquette & Sunnahs of Kindness to Animals in the Quran & Sunnah

1. Animals are communities like ours.

Allah says:

وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَـٰٓئِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ

There is no creature moving on the earth, nor a bird flying on its two wings, but they are all communities like you. We have not missed anything in the Book. Then, to their Lord all of them shall be gathered. (Surah Al-An'am 6:38)

Every creature that walks the earth lives in communities of its own, under Allah’s knowledge and care — none of them is beneath notice or mercy.

2. Even the birds glorify Allah.

Allah says:

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلطَّيْرُ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ ۖ كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُۥ وَتَسْبِيحَهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ

Did you not realize that purity of Allah is proclaimed by all those in the heavens and the earth, and by the birds with their wings spread out? Everyone knows one’s own (way of) praying (to Allah) and one’s own (way of) proclaiming Allah’s purity. And Allah knows well what they do. (Surah An-Nur 24:41)

Creation around us is busy in the remembrance of its Lord; the one who sees animals as worshipping creatures will never treat them as worthless things.

1. A thirsty dog — and a man’s sins washed away.

A man walking on a road was overcome by thirst. He climbed down a well, drank, and came out to find a dog panting and licking the mud from thirst. He said: this dog is suffering what I suffered. So he went down again, filled his shoe with water, held it in his teeth, climbed up and gave the dog to drink — and Allah appreciated his deed and forgave him. The Companions asked: “Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?” He ﷺ said: “Yes — in every moist liver there is a reward.”

Lesson: No act of mercy to an animal is small in Allah’s sight; it can carry the forgiveness of a lifetime of sins.

2. Even a sinful woman was forgiven for one act of mercy.

A woman of ill repute passed by a dog circling a well, its tongue hanging out, nearly dead of thirst. She took off her shoe, tied it to her head-cover, drew water for the dog — and for that single deed Allah forgave her.

Lesson: Mercy to the helpless is never wasted, whoever performs it.

3. A cat starved — and a woman entered the Fire.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “A woman entered the Fire because of a cat which she had tied up — she neither fed it nor set it free to eat from the vermin of the earth.”

Lesson: Cruelty to a creature in one’s power is not a small matter; neglect itself is a sin when the animal depends on you.

4. Return the young to their mother.

On a journey, the Companions took two chicks from a bird’s nest; the mother came fluttering over their heads in distress. The Prophet ﷺ asked who had distressed her by taking her young, and ordered: “Return her young to her.” In the same journey he forbade them from burning an ant colony: “None punishes with fire except the Lord of the fire.”

Lesson: Even the grief of a bird’s heart reached him ﷺ — distressing any creature for amusement is forbidden.

5. Never take a living creature as a target.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Do not make anything that has life a target.”

Lesson: Shooting or tormenting animals for sport is not entertainment in Islam; it is cruelty.

6. Do not strike or brand the face.

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade striking the face of an animal and branding it on the face.

Lesson: The face is honoured even in animals; beating and disfiguring are outside the manners of mercy.

7. Fear Allah regarding these speechless beasts.

The Prophet ﷺ passed by a camel so emaciated that its belly had sunk to its back, and said: “Fear Allah regarding these dumb animals. Ride them when they are in good condition, and feed them when they are in good condition.”

Lesson: An animal that cannot complain is a trust; its food, rest and load are all part of its owner’s accountability.

8. A bird killed for nothing will complain to Allah.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever kills a small bird for no reason, it will beseech Allah on the Day of Resurrection, saying: O Lord, so-and-so killed me for no reason — he did not kill me for any benefit.”

Lesson: Killing without a lawful benefit — food, protection, a real need — will be answered for.