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What Is the Ruling on Cremating Animals?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question 

What is the ruling on cremating animals?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

It is strictly prohibited to cremate animals or any living creature. This is because the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said,”…Indeed, no one punishes with fire except for the Lord of the fire.” [Ahmad]

This ruling is general. Thus it applies to humans, animals, insects, etc… whether alive or dead. It is, by extension, strictly prohibited to cause harm to any individual using fire.

The Prophet of Mercy – The Religion of Mercy

Allah Most High says, “We have sent you ˹O Prophet˺ only as a mercy for the whole world.” [Qur’an; 21:107]

The mercy of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) encompasses all creation: humankind, jinn kind, animals, etc… As followers of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace), we must be conduits of mercy in the world. For this reason, it is strictly prohibited to cause harm to any living creature without right, whether human or animal.

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “A woman was once punished due to a cat that she confined till it died, because of it, she entered the Hell-Fire. She didn’t feed it or give it drink while she confinement of it. Nor did she let it eat from the critters of the earth.” [Muslim]

All creation must be given its due respect, and we are charged with fulfilling the rights of the creation. Just as it is sinful to violate the rights of another human, it is sinful to violate the rights of animals.

Hope this helps

Allah knows best

[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

133 – (2242) حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَسْمَاءَ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ الضُّبَعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا جُوَيْرِيَةُ يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَسْمَاءَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: «§عُذِّبَتِ امْرَأَةٌ فِي هِرَّةٍ، سَجَنَتْهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ، فَدَخَلَتْ فِيهَا النَّارَ، لَا هِيَ أَطْعَمَتْهَا وَسَقَتْهَا، إِذْ هِيَ حَبَسَتْهَا، وَلَا هِيَ تَرَكَتْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الْأَرْضِ»
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ص2022 – صحيح مسلم – باب تحريم تعذيب الهرة ونحوها من الحيوان الذي لا يؤذي

“2673 – حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِزَامِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ الْأَسْلَمِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ -[55]- رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَمَّرَهُ عَلَى سَرِيَّةٍ قَالَ: فَخَرَجْتُ فِيهَا، وَقَالَ: «إِنْ وَجَدْتُمْ فُلَانًا فَأَحْرِقُوهُ بِالنَّارِ». فَوَلَّيْتُ فَنَادَانِي فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ: «§إِنْ وَجَدْتُمْ فُلَانًا فَاقْتُلُوهُ وَلَا تُحْرِقُوهُ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُعَذِّبُ بِالنَّارِ إِلَّا رَبُّ النَّارِ»
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ص54 – سنن أبي داود – باب في كراهية حرق العدو بالنار

This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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