📖Sunan Abi Dawud 2548
Narrated Sahl ibn al-Hanzaliyyah: The Messenger of Allah (ï·º) came upon an emaciated camel and said: Fear Allah regarding these dumb animals. Ride them when they are in good condition and feed them when they are in good condition.
This hadith from Sunan Abi Dawud highlights the importance of treating animals with kindness and compassion, emphasizing the rights of animals. From this hadith, we can learn the following lessons related to animal rights:
- Awareness of Animal Welfare: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) drew attention to the well-being of animals by reminding his followers to fear Allah and treat animals with care and consideration.
- Proper Care and Treatment: The hadith encourages responsible behavior towards animals. It emphasizes that animals should be ridden or used for work when they are in good physical condition, and they should be provided with proper nourishment.
- Compassion and Mercy: The Prophet’s statement reflects his deep sense of compassion and mercy towards animals. It teaches us to be gentle and kind when dealing with animals, recognizing their vulnerability and intrinsic value.
- Prohibition of Animal Abuse: This hadith indirectly discourages any form of cruelty, neglect, or abuse towards animals. It promotes the ethical treatment of animals and discourages mistreatment or causing unnecessary harm to them.
Today, this hadith serves as a reminder for Muslims and people in general to uphold the principles of animal welfare and to be conscious of the rights of animals. It encourages individuals to treat animals with kindness, provide them with proper care, and avoid any form of cruelty or mistreatment. By applying these teachings in our daily lives, we can contribute to a more compassionate and ethical treatment of animals.
