Story Farmland & grasslands Urban environment Mercy towards animals

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The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once told his companions the story of a woman who was punished because of a cat. She had locked it away until it died of hunger, without giving it food or water, and without even setting it free so it could seek nourishment among the beasts of the earth. This account, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, is one of the clearest teachings in Islamic tradition on the responsibility that comes with owning an animal.

A principle of direct responsibility

This hadith establishes a straightforward rule: the moment a human being takes an animal into their care, depriving it of its freedom or its natural means of survival, that person becomes responsible for meeting its essential needs. The cat in this story was not mistreated by blows or visible wounds; it was simply neglected, confined with no access to food. Yet this neglect was enough to bring serious consequences, according to the Prophet's ﷺ words, showing that inaction and oversight can have consequences as grave as active cruelty.

It is reported that the companions, upon hearing this account, grasped its universal meaning: regardless of the animal's size or apparent usefulness to humans, having it in one's care creates a moral obligation. A cat, unlike a camel or a sheep, brings no direct material benefit to its owner; yet the hadith makes no such distinction. Responsibility does not depend on the animal's usefulness, but solely on the fact that it depends on us.

A contrast that clarifies the teaching

In the same teaching reported by the Prophet ﷺ, another example is given by way of contrast: that of a woman of ill repute who was forgiven for giving water to a thirsty dog, drawing water from a well with her shoe. This parallel, also found in Sahih al-Bukhari, shows that mercy toward an animal can be a source of forgiveness, just as neglect can be a source of punishment. The two accounts respond to one another and together convey the same lesson: the fate of an animal in our care is never a matter of indifference in God's sight.

According to certain commentators of these hadiths, this teaching extends beyond the mere case of domestic animals mentioned. It applies to any living creature placed, in whatever manner, under human dependence: companion animals, livestock, working animals, or farm animals. The moment a human being decides to take such a creature into their care, they cannot escape meeting its fundamental needs: food, water, shelter, and care when it is within their power to provide these things.

What this means for us today

This prophetic tradition invites every animal owner to reflect sincerely on the quality of care they provide to those in their charge. It is not merely about avoiding overt cruelty, but also about ensuring never to neglect the daily needs of a living being entrusted to our care, whether it is a cat, a dog, a caged bird, or any other animal.

Adopting an animal means accepting a kind of silent covenant: to ensure it a dignified life for as long as it depends on us. This principle, passed down more than fourteen centuries ago, resonates with particular force today and reminds each of us that animal welfare is never a secondary concern, but an authentic duty of compassion.