Animal Welfare in Islamic Law

[Guest guest]

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, December 2008:

 

Animal Welfare in Islamic Law by Kristen Stilt

94 pages. Hard copy: <mona

PDF: <stilt

 

 

 

It would be difficult to review Animal

Welfare in Islamic Law more thoroughly, or to

praise it more strongly, than is already

accomplished in the preface by Al Azhar

University professor of Islamic law Abd Allah

Mahbrook Al-Najjar. The professor is a member of

the Council of Islamic Research at Al Azhar

University, which is widely viewed as the most

eminent institution of Islamic scholarship.

According to Abd Allah Mahbrook

Al-Najjar, Animal Welfare in Islamic Law author

Kristen Stilt " supported what she wrote that is

related to the principles of Islamic law with

sound legal rules from the Qur'an and the

Prophetic Sunna. She was faithful in her

treatment of these sources, interpreting them

correctly...Nothing in the book deviates from the

Islamic Sharia or contradicts its principles. "

Opens Stilt, " In my studies of Islamic

law, I have always been impressed by the

extensive rules that require humans to treat

animals kindly and with mercy. These rules are

wide ranging, and include significant

protections for work animals, requirements that

slaughtering be done in the most absolutely

merciful way possible, and commands to treat

dogs and cats kindly in all situationsŠThe rules

of Islamic law on animal welfare, established in

the seventh century, do more to protect animals

than the laws of any country today. "

Unfortunately, the statements and

examples cited by Mohammed himself on behalf of

animals are not as well known or widely observed

as he clearly meant them to be--especially in

some of the societies that most pretend to

observe sharia.

As Stilt explains, " Islam is based on

overarching principles of kindness, mercy,

compassion, justice, and doing good works.

These principles are seen pervasively throughout

the texts of the religionŠFor example, Aisha

[youngest of Mohammed's wives] reported an

admonition of the Prophet: 'Truly God is kind

and loves kindness. He rewards kindness and does

not reward violence.' "

Stilt examines Islamic laws addressing

slaughter, euthanasia, and the treatment of

work animals, the much misrepresented teachings

of Mohammed in favor of dogs, and the highly

favorable Islamic teachings and traditions

concerning cats.

Stilt over-reaches in a chapter on animal

welfare in Islamic history. " It was not

Europeans who established the first animal

welfare organizations and animal shelters,

rather it was Muslims, " she asserts. " In fact,

the Prophet was the first to call for kindness

and mercy to animals, and to call for humans to

provide animals with food and water and to treat

them kindly. "

Some of the Islamic cities had animal

welfare organizations and shelters centuries

before Europe, but the first animal welfare

organizations and animal shelters in recorded

history existed in India in the time of the

Buddha and Mahavir, the last prophet of the

Jains, 900 years before Mohammed's time. Both

the Buddha and Mahavir taught kindness and mercy

toward animals, apparently building on older

traditions. The Hebrew prophet Moses also taught

that animals should be given adequate food and

water, and should receive merciful treatment,

as did Isaiah.

Except in the sweep of her historical

summary, however, Stilt tends toward

understatement. More vehement interpretations of

the sayings of Mohammed appear in the online

postings of Islamic animal advocates, who for

several years have been building an animal rights

movement with an Arabic accent through the

Internet. Young women in particular are

inhibited in much of the Islamic world from

organizing the rescue and protest activities that

characterize animal advocacy in the west and much

of Asia, but passionately discuss animal issues

online, with the Hadiths of Mohammed as their

chief philosophical foundation.

A favorite of many is Hadith 3208, from

Bukhari, who was among Mohammed's closest

friends. In the conservative translation that

Stilt favors, " A prostitute passed by a dog near

the head of a well. The dog was panting and it

seemed that he was going to die of thirst. The

woman managed to give the dog water by filling up

her shoe with water. Her sins were forgiven for

doing that. "

Another common version stipulates that

the woman used her head covering to lower the

shoe into the well to get the water--which

strengthens the message that the act of kindness

matters more than the transgressions against

societal norms.

" This hadith is very powerful, " writes

Stilt. " Even a woman who had committed such a

sin was forgiven for saving the life of a dog. "

A broader reading is that adultery and any sin

lesser than adultery should be forgiven on behalf

of anyone who shows even routine kindness toward

animals.

Concludes Stilt, " Islam requires

kindness and compassion toward all animals in all

situations. I hope most fervently that these

rules can truly become a part of daily life. "

Published with the help of ANIMAL PEOPLE

and Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, the text of

Animal Welfare in Islamic Law appears in both

English and Arabic. --M.C.

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

[ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent

newspaper providing original investigative

coverage of animal protection worldwide, founded

in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes

the decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal

protection organizations. We have no alignment

or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year;

for free sample, send address.]

[Guest guest]

Islamic law also prohibts Hunting and Caging of Birds, Destroying habitat.

During my visit to Pakistan I found that SPCA at Lahore is taking action on

animal cruelty mostly on draught and pack animals and caging of birds. The Chief

Inspector told me that they book about 300 cases in a month. 

 

Dr.Sandeep K.Jain

 

--- On Fri, 12/12/08, Merritt Clifton <anmlpepl wrote:

 

Merritt Clifton <anmlpepl

Animal Welfare in Islamic Law

aapn

Friday, 12 December, 2008, 2:58 PM