Short answer
Animals have real rights in Islam. Their owner must feed them, give them water and shelter, not overload or beat them, and treat them when ill. Using animals as targets, branding their faces, cursing them and killing them for no reason are forbidden. Kindness to animals can earn forgiveness, and cruelty can lead to the Fire.
An owner is religiously obliged to feed and care for his animals, and cruelty to animals is haram. In the main Hanafi view the judge does not force an owner to feed his animal, but he sins if he does not; Abu Yusuf held that he can be compelled.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The ruler compels an owner to feed his animal, sell it or slaughter it if it is eaten.
- Hanbali
- The court compels the owner to feed his animal, sell it, or slaughter it if it may be eaten.
- Maliki
- The owner is compelled to feed it or to sell it.
Explanation
The Quran calls animals 'communities like you'. The Prophet ﷺ told of a man who gave water to a thirsty dog and was forgiven, and when asked if there is reward in animals, he said there is reward in every living being. He told of a woman who entered the Fire for locking up a cat without food.
The sunnah sets clear limits:
- No targets: he forbade using any living creature as a target for shooting.
- No needless suffering: he saw a starving camel and said, 'Do you not fear Allah about this animal that Allah has given you?'
- No cursing animals: when a woman cursed her camel on a journey, he told them not to keep a cursed animal with them.
- Kill well: when an animal is slaughtered or must be killed, it must be done quickly with a sharp blade.
Today this covers: feeding and watering pets and livestock, not leaving dogs or cats locked in hot cars, not overloading working animals, treating injuries, not using animals in fights or for cruel entertainment, and not hitting a pet in anger. Training with gentle correction is fine.
The schools agree that cruelty is haram. They differ on enforcement: in the main Hanafi view, a judge only orders the owner religiously, while the other schools allow the court to force him to feed the animal or sell it. See also pets, hunting and putting a pet down.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-An'aam 6:38
وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَٰٓئِرٍۢ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٣٨﴾
And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.
Animals are communities created by Allah.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2466
Sahih... في كل ذات كبد رطبة أجر ...
"There is reward in every living being."
Kindness to animals is rewarded.
Sahih Muslim 1957
Sahih... لا تتخذوا شيئا فيه الروح غرضا ...
"Do not take anything that has a soul as a target."
Using animals as targets is forbidden.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2549
Grading to be checked... أفلا تتقي الله في هذه البهيمة التي ملكك الله إياها ...
"Do you not fear Allah regarding this animal that Allah has placed in your ownership?"
Owners will answer for neglecting their animals.
Sahih Muslim 2596
Sahih... لا تصاحبنا ناقة عليها لعنة ...
"Let no camel that has been cursed accompany us."
Cursing animals is blameworthy.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, chapter on maintenance (nafaqat), on animals. The owner is ordered religiously to feed his animal; Abu Yusuf held he can be compelled.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Nafaqat, on the maintenance of animals. The view that the owner is compelled to feed his animal.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.