The short answer
The Qur’an says that animals and birds are communities like humans, and that everything in the heavens and the earth glorifies God. The Prophet is reported to have said that a woman was punished for starving a cat and that a man was forgiven for giving water to a thirsty dog. Hunting for sport, overloading beasts of burden, and striking animals in the face are forbidden in tradition.
A little more context
Muslims eat meat, and the rules of halal slaughter require that the animal be treated well, not see the knife or other animals being killed, and be killed swiftly with a sharp blade while God’s name is pronounced. Keeping dogs as pets is discouraged in some schools for reasons of ritual purity, though dogs for guarding, farming, and assistance are permitted; cats are generally loved.
Sources & further reading
- Qur’an 6:38 Animals and birds as communities like you.
- Qur’an 24:41 All creatures glorify God.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2363 A man forgiven for giving water to a dog.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3318 A woman punished for starving a cat.
Original introductory summary, not a direct scripture translation. Prepared 21 October 2026. Qualified human religious review is pending. About our editorial approach.