Fatwa #4714820 January 2022Saudi Arabia
Is it allowed for me to kill the cat which harms my pet rabbits?
Question
I have pet rabbits. A cat comes and eats the babies. Is it permissible for me to harm or kill the cat? It is a pet cat so it is well fed and doesn't need to kill and eat other animals.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is stated in a hadith, Rasullullah (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
اتقُوا الله في هذه البهائمِ المُعْجَمَةِ
Translation: Fear Allah Ta’ala regarding those creation which cannot speak (animals)[i]
It is not permissible to kill a cat which belongs to another person. We advise that you make some other means of protecting your rabbits.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
M. Akhtar
Student Darul Iftaa
South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[i]
سنن أبي داود ت الأرنؤوط (4/ 200)
2548 - حدّثنا عبدُ الله بن محمدٍ النُّفيليُّ، حدَّثنا مِسكين -يعني ابنَ بُكير- حدَّثنا محمد بن مُهاجِرٍ، عن ربيعةَ بن يزيدَ، عن أبي كَبشةَ السَّلُولي
عن سهْل ابن الحنْظليَّةِ، قال: مرَّ رسولُ الله -صلَّى الله عليه وسلم- ببعيرٍ قد لَحِقَ ظهرُه ببطنه، فقال: "اتقُوا الله في هذه البهائمِ المُعْجَمَةِ، فارْكَبوها صالحةً، وكلُوها صالحةً"