Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu
I want to keep a fish aquarium in my house. It is my intention that I will take care of them as best as I can and will ensure I feed them properly. I will also try my best to raise them and take care of them as a pet. I want to understand whether in the light of the Islamic Shari‘ah it is permissible to keep a fish aquarium in ones house and if there are any special instructions or conditions which we have to follow. If there are any details regarding keeping such water based pets at home, please provide guidance regarding it.
Wassalam
Walaikumassalam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu
الجواب وباللہ التوفیق
It will be considered permissible if you are taking care of their water, oxygen and food etc. in a proper and desired manner. The younger brother of Hazrat Anas RaziAllah Ta‘ala Anhu (Abu Umair) had kept a baby sparrow as a pet, when Rasulullah Sallallaho Alyhi Wasallam saw it, he did not forbid him from keeping it. On the basis fo that, if someone wants to keep a pet animal for recreation and takes care of the pet’s needs, then there is no harm in doing so.
عنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْنَا وَلِى أَخٌ صَغِيرٌ يُكْنَى أَبَا عُمَيْرٍ وَكَانَ لَهُ نُغَرٌ يَلْعَبُ بِهِ فَمَاتَ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِىُّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَرَآهُ حَزِينًا فَقَالَ « مَا شَأْنُهُ ». قَالُوا مَاتَ نُغَرُهُ فَقَالَ « يَا أَبَا عُمَيْرٍ مَا فَعَلَ النُّغَيْرُ
(سنن ابی داود:کتاب الادب،۴۹۷۱ وصحیح بخاری:کتاب الادب،۵۸۵۰)
في المجتبی رامزًا: لا بأس بحبس الطیور والداج في بیتہ ولکن یعلفہا وہوخیر من إرسالہا في السک،
(الشامي: ۹/۴۹۰، ط: دارالکتاب) وفي ”فتاوی العلامة قاري الہدایة“ سئل ہل یجوز حبس الطیور المغردة وہل یجوز عتقہا وہل في ذلک ثواب․․․ فأجاب یجوز حبسہا للاستئناس بہا․ الخ (أیضًا)
فقط واللہ اعلم بالصواب