Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question
Assalamu ‘alaykum.
I would like to know the truth about the story of ‘Muezza’ that is said to be the cat of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). I have done a bit of research into the story but can’t find any legitimate source. Is this story a fabrication?
Answer
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
The story of this cat is that, supposedly, she was asleep next to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) when he woke up one day to pray. The narration says that he cut off part of his garment that she was sleeping on in order to avoid disturbing her.
Unfortunately, I was not able to find a reference to this event, nor to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) owning a cat with that name in the Sira and Shama’il works I have access to. It seems like the story may not have a basis in the narrated events of the Prophet’s life (Allah bless him and give him peace).
The story is, however, attributed to the renowned saint Shaykh Ahmad Rifa’i (d. 578 AH) without the name of the cat mentioned. He removed his sleeve from his garment because the cat was asleep on it, and then reattached it later. The cat was not disturbed. (Dhahabi, Siyar A’lam al Nubala’)
In any case, in the Sira and Hadith works there are scores of examples of the kind treatment people and animals received from the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). There is more than enough there for anyone seeking to know how the best manifestation of good character was seen in the actions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani