Question:
Q1-Is it permissible to keep the following as pets 1-Lion 2-Monkey 3-Lizads 4-Mice 5-Squirel ? if it is not permissible could you please give the reason
Q2-Is it permissible to ride on a Elephant ?
Q3-Did Prophet (S.A.W.) or the Sahaba keep or ride on a Elephant?
Answer:
- If some of benefit is derived from the following pets, i.e. lion, mice, monkeys, squirrels, etc and if their necessities are fulfilled, then to keep them will be permissible. (Raddul Muhtaar, Vol. 5, Page 284)
It is not permissible to keep a lizard as a pet because Nabi (S.A.W.) has commanded that it should be killed. (Fataawaa Mahmoodiyah, Vol. 5, Page 134 and 389)
- It is permissible to ride on an elephant. (Fataawaa Mahmoodiyah, Vol. 14, Page 428)
- Nabi (S.A.W.) did not ride nor keep an elephant because this animal was not found in the Arabian Peninsula. The possibility exists that the Sahabah rode on elephants since they migrated to Iran after the conquest of Iran.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Nezaam bin Yahya Ali
Attested to as correct by:
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
22 June 2004
03 Jumaadul Oola 1425
This Q&A was indexed in 2012 from the website of Jameah Mahmoodiyah, South Africa. The original website no longer exists.