Assalaamu alaykum. In Sahih Muslim there is a Hadith in which we are told to kill lizards (gecko). what kind of lizard is this. are we allowed to kill only this kind of lizard or any lizard.
Shukran
Answer
This Hadith appears in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 1831, Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 5803)
The Arabic word used in the Hadith is وزغ (wazagh). The Muhaddithun have offered various different descriptions of this creature. Among them are:
1) ‘A harmful reptile’.
2) ‘A reptile that has legs which runs around at the roots of grass’.
3) ‘A reptile that drinks milk from the udders of a camel’.
4) ‘A reptile that lives on walls and roofs, has a voice and cries out or screeches out’.
(Sharhun Nawawi ‘ala Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 5803, Umdatul Qari, Hadith: 1831, ‘Awnul M’abud, Hadith: 5253, Majma’u Biharil Anwar, vol. 5 pg. 48)
Gauging from the above explanations it seems as though this type of lizard is bigger than the usual household lizard.
For a ruling on the permissibility of killing other types of lizards kindly refer to your local Mufti or Darul Ifta.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar