Islam suggests all Muslim to love and care animals, since they’re part of being. However, there are one particular animal that we must take care of, even the Prophet (SAW) keep one when he was alive. The Prophet (SAW) always caring and tender to cats. He had one favorite cat named Muezza, which found sleeping on the sleeves of the robes that the Prophet (SAW) going to wear for prayer. Rather than awaking Muezza, the Prophet (SAW) choose to cut the sleeve of the robes.
The Prophet (SAW) cherished his cat so much that he didn’t mind to drink from the same glass as Muezza, something that Muslim nowadays never do. Islam teach Muslims how to treat cats rightly. Every Muslim must know the right ways on how to treat cats in Islam since mistreating cats leads to a severe sin.
1. Feed Them Rightly
Cats are animal that unable to feed their own selves unless us human give them food. However, some people are not care enough and let the cats left in hunger. There is sever punishment for it, as the one who neglect the cats should be put to hell. As reported by Abdullah (RA), the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,
“A woman was tormented because of a cat which she had confined until it died and she had to get into Hell. She did not allow it either to eat or drink as it was confined, nor did she free it so that it might eat the insects of the earth”. – Muslim
Also read: How to Avoid Getting Angry in Islam
2. Not to Treat Them As Virus
With the health reason, people refuse to eat and drink from the same plate and glass as the cats. As narrated by Aisha (RA),
“Dawud ibn Salih ibn Dinar at-Tammar quoted his mother as saying that her mistress sent her with some pudding (harisah) to Aisha who was offering prayer. She made a sign to me to place it down. A cat came and ate some of it, but when Aisha finished her prayer, she ate from the place where the cat had eaten. She stated: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:“It is not unclean: it is one of those who go round among you”. She added: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performing ablution from the water left over by the cat”.” – Abu Dawood
3. Not to Trade Them
Cats trading is something forbidden in Islam. Whether the cats are sold for money or to be exchanged with another goods. As said by Abu Zubair (RA),
“I asked Jabir (RA) about the price of a dog and a cat; he said: “Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) disapproved of that”.” – Muslim
Also read: Virtues of Salaam in Islam
[AdSense-B]
4. Not to be Eaten
Islam allowed some animals to be slaughtered and eaten, but there are also certain animals that should never be eaten. As narrated by Jabir,
“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prohibited eating the cat and from its price.” – Tirmidhi
5. To be Provided with Food
Islam allowed Muslim to live with cats, but must provide them with appropriate food and drink. Doing good deeds towards cats will be counted as doing good deeds to another human. As narrated from Abu Hurairah (RA),
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)said: “Cats do not invalidate the prayer, because they are one of the things that are useful in the house.” – Ibn al Majah
Also read: Benefits of Night Prayers
6. Not to be Kept Locked
Cats also have their own freedom to live freely. A Muslim should never locked a cat and make it died of hunger. There’s a story about woman who was doing both, and she was punished rightly.
As narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar an Abu Hurairah,
“A woman was tortured and was put in Hell because of a cat which she had kept locked till it died of hunger.” Allah’s Messenger further said, “(Allah knows better) Allah said (to the woman), ‘You neither fed it nor watered when you locked it up, nor did you set it free to eat the insects of the earth.’ ” – Bukhari and Muslim
[AdSense-C]
7. Cats Should be Respected as Family Member
If a Muslim is living with a cat, then it must not be disrespected despite being animal. Cat has a long history in Islam and has saved many Muslims in the past. Even the Prophet himself has once saved by a cat from a snake. Feed it with food and drink as if it is your family member. Treat it with love and kindness like you do to your family.
Also read: How to Make Your Mother Happy in Islam
Forbidden Things to Do to a Cat
Islam has make it clear as to how we should treat a cats. Cat is an animal that the Prophet (SAW) himself cherished. There are also certain things that you must never do to your cats as follow below:
- To be sold for money and eat from the money earned by selling cats. As cats are no goods to be sold but they are animal that must be loved and cherished.
- To be neglected in hunger. Even though the cats are strayed in the street, a Muslim must feed it.
- To be kept locked all day and never be released. Even if you provide it with enough food and drinks, you should never tie it up.
- To be abused and treated like annoyance, because the Prophet (SAW) enevr feel annoyed by the cats appearance.
- Killing the cats in purpose are also forbidden in Islam, no matter what the reasons are. Even though the cats are severely ill, it should be died from Allah’s will.
- To hunted down till die. As cats are not kind of animals that allowed to be slaughtered and eaten, the cat hunting is indeed forbidden in Islam.
So those are all the ways how to treat cats in Islam. As a devoted Muslim, we should all love and care of cats as the Prophet (SAW) did.