بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Our Boboy died. I am saddened by it. I couldn't help it but burst into tears when yesterday I was told he was found lying dead under a parked car in front of our apartment. My sons buried him in a garden.
It appeared he was poisoned and I think I know who killed him. He was a semi outdoor cat. His mom was an outdoor cat and gave birth to him and two other siblings under my dining table about 1 1/2 years ago. So we kept them indoor and my sons taught the kittens when they were about 3 months old to climb down and up the balcony so they can freely go outdoor.
One day, soon after they were able to climb up and down the balcony and play in front of the building, one of my neighbors complained about them. Later they threatened to kill their father, Waffle, Soya's son. We were afraid that they might be harmed. So we took them and their father to another area where they would be free to roam. We tried to send the mom off with her children but couldn't because she panicked and put up a lot resistance when we tried to picked her up. Later that evening I saw their mom crying for them and was looking nervous. So, I asked my sons to look for the kittens and bring them back. But they could only find Boboy and his brother, Mr. Cow. Their sister, Priti, was no where to be found. Mother and sons reunited happily. That evening Waffle appeared on our balcony. Not long after that the mom, which we named Preggie, and Mr. Cow disappeared and never return, similar to what happened with Kitty, our first cat, and Mousse, which frequented our house, which suddenly disappeared when they were about a year old.
Boboy disappeared about a week ago and we have been looking for him. I suspected that he had died because it was not like him to not appear when we called him from the balcony or greeted us when we walked out of the apartment building or return from somewhere.
There are a lot of reasons that people will kill cats. One of the most common is that people have not been brought up to understand that cats are living breathing loving creatures. Many people feel perfectly comfortable around some animals, like dogs, but not around cats.
So many people view animals, as "just" animals, meaning that they are not considered to have any inherent value, except whatever they can provide to humans, in whatever way humans deem is acceptable. Animals are considered property, rather than as living creatures who have the same right to exist on this earth as humans, who have emotions and feelings, and who experience pain in the same ways that humans do when hurt, who glorify Allah, our Creator, and make dhikir (remembrance of Allah).
[Falling asleep by the mushaf]
As Muslims, we should always be cognizant about other creation around us especially the animals, so we don't accidentally cause them harm. If we could hear the animals talking, we would be more careful about destroying their habitat or spraying them with deadly chemicals. But even if we don't understand their speech, Allah tells us that there is no creature on the earth or bird that flies with its wings except that they are communities like us.
As signs and worshippers of the Almighty, animals are worthy of great respect. Animals, unlike people, submit naturally to God: “Each [of them] has known his [means of] prayer and exalting [Him], and Allah is Knowing of what they do. ” [Qur'an, An-Nur 24:41] and they, together with nature, constitute signs through which humans might come to know the Creator.
[Attached to the Quran]
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Our Boboy died. I am saddened by it. I couldn't help it but burst into tears when yesterday I was told he was found lying dead under a parked car in front of our apartment. My sons buried him in a garden.
It appeared he was poisoned and I think I know who killed him. He was a semi outdoor cat. His mom was an outdoor cat and gave birth to him and two other siblings under my dining table about 1 1/2 years ago. So we kept them indoor and my sons taught the kittens when they were about 3 months old to climb down and up the balcony so they can freely go outdoor.
One day, soon after they were able to climb up and down the balcony and play in front of the building, one of my neighbors complained about them. Later they threatened to kill their father, Waffle, Soya's son. We were afraid that they might be harmed. So we took them and their father to another area where they would be free to roam. We tried to send the mom off with her children but couldn't because she panicked and put up a lot resistance when we tried to picked her up. Later that evening I saw their mom crying for them and was looking nervous. So, I asked my sons to look for the kittens and bring them back. But they could only find Boboy and his brother, Mr. Cow. Their sister, Priti, was no where to be found. Mother and sons reunited happily. That evening Waffle appeared on our balcony. Not long after that the mom, which we named Preggie, and Mr. Cow disappeared and never return, similar to what happened with Kitty, our first cat, and Mousse, which frequented our house, which suddenly disappeared when they were about a year old.
Boboy disappeared about a week ago and we have been looking for him. I suspected that he had died because it was not like him to not appear when we called him from the balcony or greeted us when we walked out of the apartment building or return from somewhere.
There are a lot of reasons that people will kill cats. One of the most common is that people have not been brought up to understand that cats are living breathing loving creatures. Many people feel perfectly comfortable around some animals, like dogs, but not around cats.
[Falling asleep by the mushaf]
تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ ٱلسَّبْعُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا(Qur'an Al-Isra' 17:44)
The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not a thing but celebrates His praise; And yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft-Forbear, Most Forgiving!
As Muslims, we should always be cognizant about other creation around us especially the animals, so we don't accidentally cause them harm. If we could hear the animals talking, we would be more careful about destroying their habitat or spraying them with deadly chemicals. But even if we don't understand their speech, Allah tells us that there is no creature on the earth or bird that flies with its wings except that they are communities like us.
وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَـٰٓئِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٣٨[Qur’an, An-'Am 6:38]
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. (38)
As signs and worshippers of the Almighty, animals are worthy of great respect. Animals, unlike people, submit naturally to God: “Each [of them] has known his [means of] prayer and exalting [Him], and Allah is Knowing of what they do. ” [Qur'an, An-Nur 24:41] and they, together with nature, constitute signs through which humans might come to know the Creator.
وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّـهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن مَّآءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ وَٱلسَّحَابِ ٱلْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٦٤ ...[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:164]
...and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason. (164)
Many Prophetic sayings encapsulate the respect for animals. Such compassion is at the core of many laws concerning treatment of animals. Their slaughter, for instance, must follow a strict set of requirements (halal) to ensure that the animal is killed with minimal pain.
We, human beings, cannot survive on this earth without each other and other communities of life. Life is complete only with this interdependency. Life is made beautiful by our compassion towards each other.
The Prophet Muhammad, Allah bless him and grant him peace, taught us to protect animal and plant life, and to worship the Creator by being merciful to the creation.
Allah Almighty says,
وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ﴿١٣٢[Qur'an AleImran 3:132]
And obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy. (132)
If you say La illaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah, you should show compassion to all creatures of Allah, not just your children or your loved ones, but all creatures that walk on earth.
Protect our environment...plants, animals, water, etc, are all creatures of Allah.
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٠
And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know." (30)
[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:30]
Take care of animals. Animals have a huge role in the ecological welfare system. The tenets of the Shari'ah law towards animals rights make it obligatory for any individual to take care of crippled animals, to rescue strays and to guard a bird's nest of eggs.
"A man felt very thirsty while he was on the way, there he came across a well. He went down the well, quenched his thirst and came out. Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. He said to himself, "This dog is suffering from thirst as I did." So, he went down the well again, filled his shoe with water, held it with his mouth and watered the dog. Allah appreciated him for that deed and forgave him." The Companions said, "O Allah's Messenger! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?" He replied: "There is a reward for serving any living being." [Bukhari]
There are too many people in this world who do not stand up for animal rights. We need to start pressuring our city, state, and federal legislators to make stronger laws against animal cruelty, and stronger penalties for committing animal abuse.
May Allah forgive us and have mercy on us. May Allah guide the Ummah and help us protect our environment and His innocent creatures. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Related Archives:
Fitrah of a Kitten
Friends
Four Kittens, Gift from Al-Badee'
Merciless Hearts
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