Can I put down a seriously sick pet?
In Islam, putting down (euthanising) a cat is only permissible if the animal is suffering from an illness, injury, or condition that causes unbearable pain with no hope of recovery.
Islam teaches kindness and mercy towards animals, and causing unnecessary harm or death is strictly forbidden.
Mercy towards animals
We have been taught to be kind to animals in numerous hadith.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,
أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” بَيْنَا رَجُلٌ بِطَرِيقٍ، اشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَطَشُ فَوَجَدَ بِئْرًا فَنَزَلَ فِيهَا فَشَرِبَ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ، فَإِذَا كَلْبٌ يَلْهَثُ يَأْكُلُ الثَّرَى مِنَ الْعَطَشِ، فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ لَقَدْ بَلَغَ هَذَا الْكَلْبَ مِنَ الْعَطَشِ مِثْلُ الَّذِي كَانَ بَلَغَ مِنِّي، فَنَزَلَ الْبِئْرَ، فَمَلأَ خُفَّهُ مَاءً، فَسَقَى الْكَلْبَ، فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ، فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ”. قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّ لَنَا فِي الْبَهَائِمِ لأَجْرًا فَقَالَ ” فِي كُلِّ ذَاتِ كَبِدٍ رَطْبَةٍ أَجْرٌ ”.
“A man felt very thirsty while he was on the way, there he came across a well. He went down the well, quenched his thirst and came out. Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. He said to himself, “This dog is suffering from thirst as I did.” So, he went down the well again and filled his shoe with water and watered it. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him. The people said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?” He replied: “Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate (living being).” (Bukhari)
Prohibition of unnecessary killing
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned against harming animals unjustly:
عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما أنَّ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «عُذِّبت امرأة في هِرَّة سَجَنَتْها حتى ماتت، فدخلت فيها النار، لا هي أطعمتها ولا سَقتها، إذ حبستها، ولا هي تَركتْها تأكل مِن خَشَاشِ الأرض».
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A woman was tormented because of a cat which she had kept locked up until it died, and she was thrown into Hell for that. She neither gave it food or drink when she locked it up nor freed it so that it would eat from the vermin of the earth.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Permissibility in cases of extreme suffering
Scholars agree that if an animal is in severe pain with no chance of healing, then euthanasia is allowed as an act of mercy.
Abu Ya’la Shaddad bin ‘Aus (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,
وعن أبى يعلى شداد بن أوس رضي الله عنه، عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “إن الله كتب الإحسان على كل شئ، فإذا قتلتم فأحسنوا القتلة وإذا ذبحتم فأحسنوا الذبحة، وليحد أحدكم شفرته وليرح ذبيحته” ((رواه مسلم)).
“Verily Allah has prescribed Ihsan (kindness) for everything. So when you kill, you must make the killing in the best manner; when you slaughter, make your slaughter in the best manner. Let one of you sharpen his knife and give ease to his animal (in order to reduce his pain).” (Muslim)
If a pet is suffering with no cure, then euthanasia is permissible as a last resort and should be done in the most humane way possible. However, if the cat is healthy or can recover with treatment, then it is haram to put it down unjustly.
If you’re dealing with this situation, it’s best to consult a vet.
Shaykh Haytham Tamim
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