Fatwa #384079 November 2017South Africa
Can I pursue a vet course?
Question
BEING A VETERINARIAN
Assalaamu alaikum warahmatullahi wa barakaatuh
Respected Mufti sahed
1. Is it permissible to study and thereafter practice veterinary science, will it be rewarding to help animals, etc.
2. Will there be any limitations to working with animals such as dogs and pigs, etc.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is permissible to study and practice veterinary science. One will be rewarded for this occupation as well.
Consider the following hadith,
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " بَيْنَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي، فَاشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ العَطَشُ، فَنَزَلَ بِئْرًا، فَشَرِبَ مِنْهَا، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِكَلْبٍ يَلْهَثُ يَأْكُلُ الثَّرَى مِنَ العَطَشِ، فَقَالَ: لَقَدْ بَلَغَ هَذَا مِثْلُ الَّذِي بَلَغَ بِي، فَمَلَأَ خُفَّهُ، ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَهُ بِفِيهِ، ثُمَّ رَقِيَ، فَسَقَى الكَلْبَ، فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ، فَغَفَرَ لَهُ "، قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، وَإِنَّ لَنَا فِي البَهَائِمِ أَجْرًا؟ قَالَ: «فِي كُلِّ كَبِدٍ رَطْبَةٍ أَجْرٌ»
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said, "While a man was walking he felt thirsty and went down a well and drank water from it. On coming out of it, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of excessive thirst. The man said, 'This (dog) is suffering from the same problem as that of mine. So he (went down the well), filled his shoe with water, caught hold of it with his teeth and climbed up and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for his (good) deed and forgave him." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam)! Is there a reward for us in serving (the) animals?" He replied, "Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate."(Bukhari)
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Huzaifah Deedat
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
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صحيح البخاري-دار طوق النجاة (3/ 111)
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ سُمَيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " بَيْنَا رَجُلٌ [ص:112] يَمْشِي، فَاشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ العَطَشُ، فَنَزَلَ بِئْرًا، فَشَرِبَ مِنْهَا، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِكَلْبٍ يَلْهَثُ يَأْكُلُ الثَّرَى مِنَ العَطَشِ، فَقَالَ: لَقَدْ بَلَغَ هَذَا مِثْلُ الَّذِي بَلَغَ بِي، فَمَلَأَ خُفَّهُ، ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَهُ بِفِيهِ، ثُمَّ رَقِيَ، فَسَقَى الكَلْبَ، فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ، فَغَفَرَ لَهُ "، قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، وَإِنَّ لَنَا فِي البَهَائِمِ أَجْرًا؟ قَالَ: «فِي كُلِّ كَبِدٍ رَطْبَةٍ أَجْرٌ» تَابَعَهُ حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، وَالرَّبِيعُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ