5 Points of Islam’s Perspective about Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty cases are increasing highly from time to time. Since more than over the century, people use the animal for their benefit. Such as for food, fashion, transportation, or leisure. People do not care about animals feeling since they can not speak to them.

Nowadays we may hear the news about some people take fish from the sea or river by a bomb or trawling tiger. Another one forced the cow to drink water as much as they want so the cow becomes weightier. In some places that still use a horse for transportation, they still use them to work on a full day.

The law about animals needs people to obey but some people still neglect it. Some people all around the world exactly less caring for the animal, no exception for Muslims.

Surely, how Islam’s perspective facing these bad circumstances? Before answer this question, let’s see the definition of animal cruelty below.

What is Animal Cruelty?

People’s perspective about animal cruelty is varied. Animal cruelty has several types such as organized neglecting, intentional abusement, exploitation, ritualistic abuse, and animal hoarding.

In the business industry, animal exploitation increases rapidly around the world. Animal cruelty or whatever the form of cruelty is not in line with Islamic rule.

However, not all Muslims are aware of this situation. In most countries, there are still found so many cases about animal cruelty. It includes the country that most of the people are Muslims living there.

Animals are Allah’s Creatures

Animals are Allah’s creature just like a human. They made to help us in life such as food or transportation. That things are happening since a long time ago. That is why in the Quran, surah An Nahl verse 8, Allah mentions the animal so we can use them wisely through our benefits.

وَّالْخَيْلَ وَالْبِغَالَ وَالْحَمِيْرَ لِتَرْكَبُوْهَا وَزِيْنَةًۗ وَيَخْلُقُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ – ٨

 “And (He has created) horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and as an adornment. And He has created other things of which you have no knowledge.”

Based on that verse, Islam taught us that we should not treat any cruelty. Even if for sacrifice in Eid Al Adha, there are rules about the history of Qurban in Islam. Here we have 5 perspectives about animal cruelty in Islam.

1.Allah’s Proscribe Animal Cruelty

Knowing the facts that people are avoiding to care for an animal is devastating. In the Quran surah Al An’am verse 38

وَمَا مِنْ دَاۤبَّةٍ فِى الْاَرْضِ وَلَا طٰۤىِٕرٍ يَّطِيْرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ اِلَّآ اُمَمٌ اَمْثَالُكُمْ ۗ

“And there is not one animal on earth and the birds that fly with their wings, all are people (also) like you..”

Based on the verse above obviously, we should treat the animal such we treat ourselves. We should not harm them or use them only to our benefit. There are rules in Islam that Muslims should obey to treat the animal in a good way. There also things are forbidden in buying and selling and its verses about using animals in Islam.

2. Harm Animal is Forbidden in Islam

If we use the animal for our benefit, it should be based on the Quran and Islamic rules. If we use them for food, then we should slaughter them properly. We are not allowed to slaughter them with abuse. This kind of behavior is one of the ethics toward yourself in Islam.

These facts already mentioned in the Quran surah Al Maidah verse 1. Not only keep behave but also there are manners of praying in Islam and its verses before slaughter the animal.

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا اَوْفُوْا بِالْعُقُوْدِۗ اُحِلَّتْ لَكُمْ بَهِيْمَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ اِلَّا مَا يُتْلٰى عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ مُحِلِّى الصَّيْدِ وَاَنْتُمْ حُرُمٌۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَحْكُمُ مَا يُرِيْدُ – ١

“O, believers! Fulfill Promises. Livestock is permitted for you, except for those that will be transferred to you, by not being allowed to treat your compilation while on pilgrimage (hajj or umrah). Verily, Allah approves the law according to what He wants.”

3. Islam Prohibit Exploitation of Animal

Exploitation is kind of devastating for all of the animals. These kinds of things are harming the animal so much. Fashion and beauty trends become the most exploitation of the animal.

People exploit very rare animals so they will have a unique pattern to their brands. On the other hand, they took the animal for beauty needs such as the snail that claims can make the skin glow.

This action is no excuse. These animals should be kept and a care such as we care for our family. There are rules in Islam how we use the animal as for our benefits. In the Quran surah An Anhl verse 5

وَالْاَنْعَامَ خَلَقَهَا لَكُمْ فِيْهَا دِفْءٌ وَّمَنَافِعُ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُوْنَ – ٥

 “And cattle he has created for you, from them you derive warmth and numerous benefits, and of their (meat) you eat.”

4. Islam is More Concern About Animal Welfare

Islam considerably gives full support for the importance of animal’s wellbeing. The animal is Allah’s creatures that made for some reason. One of the reasons is to keep the earth on balance. It also makes human life balance such as their needs for food. We know that people need some additional nutrition of meat.

In the Quran, surah Ar Rahman verse 8-10 mentions that we should keep the balance for what Allah creates..

اَلَّا تَطْغَوْا فِى الْمِيْزَانِ – ٨

وَاَقِيْمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا الْمِيْزَانَ – ٩

وَالْاَرْضَ وَضَعَهَا لِلْاَنَامِۙ – ١٠

“So you don’t break the balance, and uphold that balance fairly and do not reduce that balance. And He has spread the earth for (His) creatures,”

5. Islamic Rules Demand Grateful for Animals

Islam taught us that we should be grateful for all of the animals that help us. From them, we can eat the food and make us keep nutritious. We can take the fur or feather as clothes that warmth us. 

Last not but least, of course, we should be more grateful to them. Since there benefits of being grateful, we do not argue anymore about this.

As written in the Quran, surah Al-Hajj verse 36

جُنُوْبُهَا فَكُلُوْا مِنْهَا وَاَطْعِمُوا الْقَانِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّۗ كَذٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُوْنَ – ٣٦

“And we made the camels for you a part of the symbols of the religion of God, you get a lot of kindness to him. Then say the name of Allah (when you will slaughter it) standing (and feet bound). Then when it has fallen down (dead), then eat some of it and feed the person who feels enough with what he has (not begging) and the person who asks. Thus We bow (the camels) to you so that you will be grateful.”

So, there are 5 perspectives about animal cruelty in Islam. We should be more grateful for animals that always help us not harm them, right?