My Message and Appeal to you: Animals can roam 100s of square miles. Locking them in cages is worse than life in prison with hard labor! Please say no to Zoos and pets imprisonment (i.e., birds and fishes).
Allah Almighty created animals to live in communities like us. This means that He created means of communication and understanding for them (languages as we call it). This simply raises the animals to a level which prohibits us to imprison them and to lock them up for life in zoos:
"There is not an animal (That lives) on the earth, Nor a being that flies On its wings, but (forms Part of) communities like you. Nothing have We omitted From the Book, and they (all) Shall be gathered to their Lord In the end. (The Noble Quran, 6:38)"
Since animals live in communities like us, this makes them deserve to live a free and open life, and not to be locked up in prisons (zoos and cages at our home).
Are Zoos allowed in Islam? What does Islam say about animal cruelty?
The sections of this article are:
- Animal cruelty used to be and still is part of many humans'
cultures.
- So what does Islam say about all of this?
- What about animal sacrifices in Islam?
- So what does the Bible say about animal torture and imprisonment?
- Since when most Christians have any regard to
the Old Testament anyway?!
- But zoos are educational for our kids.
- Muslim and non-Muslim countries all have zoos today!
- Conclusion.
First of all, I must say that I am really ashamed of myself for owning this web site for 3 years now, and this is the first time I write about this important topic. May GOD Almighty punish me for it, for I feel that I caused my readers to not abandon visiting zoos all this time by failing to educate them.
We live in a world today where mistreatment of prisoners of war is a big deal. We raise hell if humans are mistreated. But what about our animal prisoners of war (for the lack of better term)?! We sentence those poor animals to life in prisons (zoos), and we entertain ourselves real well by watching them suffer.
Not only that, but we also sentence them to life in prison in our own homes, by locking up birds that can fly 100's of square miles in a small cage, and by locking up fishes that can swim 1000's of square miles in a small box filled with water.
Really, what a big shame!!
Animal cruelty used to be and still is part of many humans' cultures:
Animals not only suffer in prisons from us, but they also suffer a great torture by us. Think about the World's popular sports from "Bear Bating", where they unleash several pit bull dogs to attack a bear tied to a metal pole, or a bull fight a bear.
Think about the "Bull Fight" sport, where a man fights a bull with his swords, and slowly and painfully stabs the bull with those swords until the bull collapses and dies. This sport is very popular today in Europe.
Think about the "Dog Fights" sport, where they bring two dogs to fight each others to death and make bets on them.
Think about the "Cock Fights" or the "Rooster Fights", where similar to the dogs fights, they would bring two roosters to fight each others to death and make bets on them.
Important Note: By the way, even though I disliked the Taliban in Afghanistan, but they did ban this ridiculous sport and flogged those who did it, and now after the removal of the Taliban it is coming back along with raising the drug crops as I heard on Fox News Channel. This is something I really appreciate from the Taliban regardless of their excessive oppressing regime.
Think about the "Animals' Hunting Seasons" such as hunting mountain lions, ducks and dears in Canada and the US. As a human and a Muslim, I can appreciate hunting dears and ducks for food. But I can never appreciate hunting mountain lions for recreation.
Think about the illegal hunting of bears world wide to get their gulp bladder, because some ridiculous Pagan Chinese tradition suggests that if you eat a bear gulf bladder, then you should heal from your diseases and become a lot stronger. Medically this had all been proven to be a bunch of garbage!
So what does Islam say about all of this?
Allah Almighty created animals to live in communities like us. This means that He created means of communication and understanding for them (languages as we call it). This simply raises the animals to a level which prohibits us to imprison them and to lock them up for life in zoos:
The following Noble Verse was sent to me by brother Karim Mostafa; may Allah Almighty always be pleased with him:
"There is not an animal (That lives) on the earth, Nor a being that flies On its wings, but (forms Part of) communities like you. Nothing have We omitted From the Book, and they (all) Shall be gathered to their Lord In the end. (The Noble Quran, 6:38)"
Since animals live in communities like us, this makes them deserve to live a free and open life, and not to be locked up in prisons (zoos).
What did Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him say about animal cruelty and imprisonment?
Before we look the Sayings and Commands of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, it is important to know that according to the Noble Quran, Allah Almighty ordered the Muslims to obey the Prophet and to follow his commands.
Allah Almighty said in the Noble Quran:
"O ye who believe! Obey God, and obey the Apostle, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to God and His Apostle, if ye do believe in God and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination. (The Noble Quran, 4:59)"
"When there comes to them some matter touching (Public) safety or fear, they divulge it. If they had only referred it to the Apostle, or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have Tested it from them (direct). Were it not for the Grace and Mercy of God unto you, all but a few of you would have fallen into the clutches of Satan. (The Noble Quran, 4:83)"
Having said that, let us look at some of the Sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him:
Animal cruelty and imprisonment are clearly prohibited in Islam! Let us look at what Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said:
Narrated Abu Huraira: "The Prophet said, 'A man saw a dog eating mud from (the severity of) thirst. So, that man took a shoe (and filled it) with water and kept on pouring the water for the dog till it quenched its thirst. So Allah approved of his deed and made him to enter Paradise.' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Ablutions (Wudu'), Volume 1, Book 4, Number 174)"
Narrated Ibn 'Umar: "The Prophet said, 'A woman entered the (Hell) Fire because of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth.' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Beginning of Creation, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 535)"
Narrated Asma' bint Abi Bakr: 'The Prophet once offered the eclipse prayer. He stood for a long time and then did a prolonged bowing. He stood up straight again and kept on standing for a long time, then bowed a long bowing and then stood up straight and then prostrated a prolonged prostration and then lifted his head and prostrated a prolonged prostration. And then he stood up for a long time and then did a prolonged bowing and then stood up straight again and kept on standing for a long time. Then he bowed a long bowing and then stood up straight and then prostrated a prolonged prostration and then lifted his head and went for a prolonged prostration. On completion o the prayer, he said, "Paradise became s near to me that if I had dared, I would have plucked one of its bunches for you and Hell became so near to me that said, 'O my Lord will I be among those people?' Then suddenly I saw a woman and a cat was lacerating her with it claws. On inquiring, it was said that the woman had imprisoned the cat till it died of starvation and she neither fed it no freed it so that it could feed itself.' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Characteristics of Prayer, Volume 1, Book 12, Number 712)"
As we clearly see from the above Sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, cruelty and imprisonment of animals will cause the person to get tortured in Hell. Islam does not tolerate the torture and the bad treatment done to animals from the ridiculous sports of today.
Animals do worship Allah Almighty and thus need to be respected: "Seest thou not that to God bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth,- the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment: and such as God shall disgrace,- None can raise to honour: for God carries out all that He wills. (The Noble Quran, 22:18)"
What about the animal sacrifices in Islam?
Animal sacrifices in Islam are only meant to feed the poor and the needy. Allah Almighty doesn't really care for the sacrifice, nor does animal sacrifice really mean much to Allah Almighty:
"The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the symbols from God: in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of God over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have We made animals subject to you, that ye may be grateful. It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches God: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify God for His Guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do right. Verily God will defend (from ill) those who believe: verily, God loveth not any that is a traitor to faith, or show ingratitude. (The Noble Quran, 22:36-38)"
Muslims are not vegetarians. We do eat some animals for nutrition. But we are not supposed to cause animals to live in prisons, or to die slow and painful deaths. When an animal is due to be killed, then it will be put to death in the appropriate Islamic way.
Important Note: I was taught that either Prophet Muhammad or his second Caliph Omar (I don't remember), commanded us that when we kill an animal, we must not kill it in front of another animal. The animal must be killed privately so the other animal wouldn't get scared.
So what does the Bible say about animal torture and imprisonment?
In the Old Testament, animal cruelty is prohibited. Let us look at the following verse:
"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. (From the NIV Bible, Proverbs 12:10)"
Even though the first half of this verse speaks DIRECTLY about pets and farm animals only and not about all animals in general, but the second half of it clearly prohibits cruel acts in general, hence this would prohibit animal cruelty in general.
I am not sure however if this verse clearly addresses imprisonment of animals (i.e., zoos). There is more to just feeding your animal. As we clearly see above, Islam prohibits imprisonment and mistreatment of animals. Islam also commands the Muslims to treat the animals with respect, because they too worship Allah Almighty just like humans do.
Proverbs 12:10 does not address the treatment of animals as Islam does. The verse is too general and too ambiguous if we wish to prohibit zoos through it.
In the New Testament, the Bible has absolutely nothing! The Bible especially in the New Testament pretty much covers nothing when it comes to life's problems and issues. In fact, if Christians really want to be ridiculous and push their limits with GOD Almighty, they can say that animal cruelty and imprisonment are not prohibited nor really resented in the Bible since Jesus himself had total disregard to animals:
"He [Jesus] said to them, 'Go!' so they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. (From the NIV Bible, Matthew 8:32)"
I am not in anyway suggesting that Jesus peace be upon him had total disregard to animals' values. But as there are Homosexual Christians who don't mind having sex with and marrying from the same gender as the American Christians in California do, I am sure you can always find the scum of the earth from Christians and their Churches who find justifications for things like this from their Bible; the book of women's breasts and vaginas taste like wine. I have quotes from the Bible's Old Testament that talk about women's privates in this disgusting and porn-full way.
Similar to the "Bull Fight" sport in the "Christian" Europe where they kill the bull slowly and painfully by stabbing it to death with several swords as I mentioned above. I am sure the Churches in Europe have no problem with this ugly sport since it is very popular in Europe, as "Rodeo" is popular in the Western side of the US among the Cowboys.
And by the way, even in the US, some of Rodeo's activities are cruel to animals, from chasing a baby cow and then stretching it with ropes by its head and feet, to tackling a baby cow and flipping it to the side by twisting its neck, which could result in sever injury and pain to the baby animal.
We don't hear about Churches object to this cruelty and nonsense!
Since when most Christians have any regard to the Old Testament anyway?!
Also, since when most Christians have any regard to the Old Testament anyway?! How come Proverbs 12:10 is now honored by Christians as this verse was recommended to me by a Christian?!
Even though that I had long debates with many Christians trying to prove to them that yes they have to follow the laws of the OT that had not been replaced by newer ones in the NT and wrote an article especially for them, but I find it quite ironic and hypocritical that Christians now are referring to the OT to desperately find a dubious verse to prove that zoos and animal imprisonment TO ALL ANIMALS and not just pets and farm animals were indeed addressed in the Bible when in reality they were not.
Please visit Christians have to follow the Old Testament.
But zoos are educational for our kids:
Well, if you're so desperate to teach your kids about animals, then have them watch the "Animal Planet" or the "Discovery" TV channels. There is nothing extra educational about animals at the zoo. Animals look the same on TV as they do at the zoo.
If you still insist that zoos are educational and we must have them for our children, then how about locking yourself up in a small cage at the zoo, so we can all learn about the "Human Animal" and how it can live in a cage, or should I say jail for the rest of its life!
Is that fair enough?
Muslim and non-Muslim countries all have zoos today!
Pretty much almost every country in the world today has a zoo. The issue that I am raising however is that Christians today don't mind zoos and animal imprisonment. In fact as I mentioned above, many Christians have pets such as birds locked up in cages and fishes locked up in glass boxes filled with water. They see no problem with it from the Bible.
Muslims too today don't mind animal imprisonment and they practice it. But the religious Muslims don't agree with the zoos because Islam clearly prohibited animal imprisonment. The Bible never addressed the issue.
I never judge a religion based on what its followers do. I judge it based on what it teaches its followers.
For instance, if the Bible prohibited animal imprisonment and all Jews and Christians today still violate the Bible and practice it, then I would still be glad to mention that the Bible clearly prohibits animal imprisonment despite if all of its followers disregard its command.
Those Muslims who know about Islam's prohibition to animal imprisonment and torture, and still go to zoos with their own free will are hypocrites!
Conclusion:
Zoos and animal cruelty and imprisonment are clearly prohibited in Islam. Islam is a religion that is full of mercy for animals. The Bible on the other hand didn't mention anything about animal imprisonment. In fact, some Christians might even find evidence from the Bible that would support the idea of animal tortures in sports.
So please do not go to the zoo. Do not support any organization that tortures and imprisons animals, and most of all: Please do not imprison fishes and birds in your home! Please remove such pets and grant them mercy and freedom, so at the end GOD Almighty can have some mercy on you at the Day of Judgement.
Back to Ask me any question section.
Allah, Islam, Quran, Muhammad questions and answers.
The place of Jesus, Jews, Christians and non-Muslims in Islam.
Please email me at Osama Abdallah
Back to either www.aol40.com or www.answering-christianity.com
Both sites are exactly the same
You are visitor number:
since 4/13/1999.