I have killed an ant while I was in state of Ihram(Ritual consecration), should I offer an expiation for doing so?
Answer:
If a Muslim kills ants while he is in state of Ihram, it doesn`t invalidate his Hajj or Umrah, and no expiation is due on him. An-Nawawi(May Allah have mercy on him) said, "Ash-Shaffi disliked killing ants, but he used to say that nothing is due on a Muslim who has done so while in state of Ihram."{Al-Majmou`, 7/334}. In fact, it is prohibited for a Muslim to kill harmless ants, whether he was in state of Ihram or not, because of the Hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas, and reads as follows: "The Prophet (PBUH) prohibited to kill four creatures: ants, bees, hoopoes, and sparrow-hawks."{Abu Dwud}. And Allah knows best.
If a Muslim kills ants while he is in state of Ihram, it doesn`t invalidate his Hajj or Umrah, and no expiation is due on him. An-Nawawi(May Allah have mercy on him) said, "Ash-Shaffi disliked killing ants, but he used to say that nothing is due on a Muslim who has done so while in state of Ihram."{Al-Majmou`, 7/334}. In fact, it is prohibited for a Muslim to kill harmless ants, whether he was in state of Ihram or not, because of the Hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas, and reads as follows: "The Prophet (PBUH) prohibited to kill four creatures: ants, bees, hoopoes, and sparrow-hawks."{Abu Dwud}. And Allah knows best.