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
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ص54 – سنن أبي داود – باب في كراهية حرق العدو بالنار