Is it okay to use glue traps to kill mice according to Islam?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

In principle, it is permissible to exterminate rodents and pests which are harmful.^[i] However, one must do so in a humane and quick manner. It is impermissible to use methods which will torcher the rodents and pests physically and/or mentally. Glue traps and all other adhesive methods should be avoided at all costs as they drive rodents to die in an inhumane manner. The following are a few different harms of adhesive traps:

1)    They cause the mice to suffocate;

2)    They cause the mice to panic and have heart attacks;

3)    They cause the mice to die of starvation and dehydration, slowly;

4)    They cause the mice to chew of their own legs to free themselves.

Alternatively, one should use quicker methods such as electric mouse traps and classic snap traps or even catch and release snap traps.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Abrar Habib

Student - Darul Iftaa

New York City, New York, USA

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

13-04-1441|10-12-2019

^[i]

المحيط البرهاني في الفقه النعماني (5/ 381)

وفي «فتاوى أهل سمرقند» : الهرة إذا كانت مؤذية لا تضرب، ولا تفرك أذنها ولكنها تذبح بسكين حاد

الفتاوى الهندية (5/ 361)

الهرة إذا كانت مؤذية لا تضرب ولا تعرك أذنها بل تذبح بسكين حاد كذا في الوجيز للكردري

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 388)

والهرة المؤذية لا تضرب، ولا تعرك أذنها بل تذبح بسكين حاد

فتاولى محمودية، ج-١٨، ص-٢٧٩

فتاوى قاسمية،  ج-١٠، ص-٣٨٩