Breeding Animals In Islam


 Menna Hatem

Note: This article was first published on: Breeding animals - cats and dogs - in Islam

What is the best animal to be bred? Most of us love to breed animals in our houses, especially those cute animals like colored birds, cats or turtles. According to the Islamic rule, everything is permissible until we have a proof from the Qur’an or Sunnah that forbids it. Thus, all animals are allowed to be bred except those that have a certain harm for human beings or explicitly stated in the Qur’an or Sunnah. Therefore, we should know the conditions Islam imposed for breeding animals and the most harmful animals that we used to breed.

The Allowed Animals

        Islam allows animals breeding as animals entertain and help people in their lives. The Prophet Muhammed (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) encouraged muslims to breed animals as in Hadeeth : Narrated Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet (PBUH) used to mix with us to the extent that he would say to a younger brother of mine, ‘O Aba `Umair! What did the Nughair (a kind of bird) do?“ [Sahih al-Bukhari].  

        However, breeding animals is allowed under the condition of feeding them and not torturing them. Ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said:The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said,

A woman was punished in Hell because of a cat which she had confined until it died. She did not give it to eat or to drink when it was confined, nor did she free it so that it might eat the vermin of the earth.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Breeding Dogs

        As for breeding dogs, it has a certain condition.  Muslims cannot breed dogs except if they were used for hunting, guarding houses, cattle, farms, or any other properties. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said,

He who keeps a dog, will lose out of his good deeds equal to one Qirat every day, except one who keeps it for guarding the fields or the herd.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

        On the other hand, breeding dogs in other conditions is not allowed as their saliva is unclean and full of germs. Thus, the Prophet ordered Muslims to wash the vessels that were contaminated with dogs’ saliva many times. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: 

The purification of the utensil belonging to any one of you, after it is licked by a dog, lies in washing it seven times, using sand for the first time“. [Sahih Muslim].

        Furthermore, one of the researches was conducted on the relationship between earth and rabies. Rabies is a disease whose bacteria lie in the saliva of the dog and are transmittable to man. The dog may have this kind of bacteria even though the symptoms of rabies do not appear on the dog.  It may have the disease, just like any animal or living being having or carrying the disease without being infected by it. Research on this matter was conducted in Spain a long time ago and recently by a Pakistani doctor. It was found that rabies and its germs no matter how much washed with water can not be removed completely unless rubbed at least once with earth.  Earth kills germs completely. The same applies to other diseases. This confirms the prophetic tradition.

Breeding Pigs

        Breeding pigs is not allowed in Islam as pigs are the cradle of harmful germs. It is a scavenger and not meant for human consumption. Moreover, pork (pig’s meat) is forbidden to be eaten. Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, says:

Say, I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine – for indeed, it is impure – or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.“  [Quran/6/145].

        Furthermore, scientific evidence prove that pork is least healthy having different harmful agents like Cholesterol and Fatty Acids, bacteria and Toxins and a number of parasites. Pork is high in fat and cholesterol that causes the cardiovascular diseases, obesity, the incidence of large intestine cancer. Bacteria and Toxins associated with pigs spread many diseases like Salmonellosis, which leads to the acute gastroenteritis and diarrhea. Many other diseases like,Tuberculosis, Yersiniosis, Listeriosis, Leptospirosis, Brucellosis, Smallpox, Influenza, Anthrax, Balantidial dysentery, Foot rot, Cholera and Erysipeloid are attributed to pork consumption. Parasitic Diseases Ascaris, Ancylostomiasis, Toxoplasmosis, Trichinellosis, Cysticercosis showing signs of mental disorders, Pneumonia, Bleeding of the lungs (haemoptysis), which may lead to death or madness.  The patient may become blind and deaf. Nitrates used in pork and pork products as additives are converted into nitrosamines which cause hepatic cell tumors. Flesh of the pork is hard to digest and may lead to chronic digestive disturbances. Pimples, boils, cysts are common in pork eaters. The pig excretory system secretes 2 percent of its uric acid that is injurious for the human health. Pork consumption seriously affects human health and adversely injurious one’s moral values. A person gets pig-like characteristics by eating pork like indecency, obscenity and drop in honoring women.

        Ultimately, we can answer the question and try to breed the most useful animal that entertains, accompanies and help us in our daily life. On the other hand, we should avoid breeding the harmful animals like pigs and dogs in our houses in order to protect ourselves and people we care about.