No one should punish with fire except the Lord of fire

Islam > Hadiths > Jurisprudence and juristic principles > Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles

Hadith narrated by Narrated by Abu Dāwūd

Authenticity grade : Authentic

Hadith text: No one should punish with fire except the Lord of fire

عنْ ابنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُ قَالَ: كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي سَفَرٍ، فَانْطَلَقَ لِحَاجَتِهِ، فَرَأَيْنَا حُمَّرَةً مَعَهَا فَرْخَانِ، فَأَخَذْنَا فَرْخَيْهَا، فَجَاءَتِ الْحُمَرَةُ فَجَعَلَتْ تَفْرِشُ، فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: «مَنْ فَجَعَ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا؟ رُدُّوا وَلَدَهَا إِلَيْهَا»، وَرَأَى قَرْيَةَ نَمْلٍ قَدْ حَرَّقْنَاهَا، فَقَالَ: «مَنْ حَرَّقَ هَذِهِ؟» قُلْنَا: نَحْنُ. قَالَ: «إِنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُعَذِّبَ بِالنَّارِ إِلَّا رَبُّ النَّارِ».

Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were on a journey with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when he went to relieve himself. We then saw a Hummarah (a type of bird) with its two chicks. We took its chicks, and the bird came back and began to flap its wings. Upon seeing it, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came and said: "Who has distressed it by taking its baby? Return its baby." He then saw an ant colony that we had burned, and he said: "Who burned this?" We said: We did. He said: "No one should punish with fire except the Lord of fire."

Explanation of the hadith: No one should punish with fire except the Lord of fire

Lessons: No one should punish with fire except the Lord of fire

• The permissibility and recommendation of seeking privacy when relieving oneself.
• The prohibition of torturing animals by taking away their younglings.
• The prohibition of burning ants and insects with fire.
• Encouraging kindness and mercy toward animals-an area in which Islam has long been a pioneer.
• Mercy of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) toward animals.
• Punishment with fire is something that is exclusively reserved for Allah Almighty.

Categories : Manners of Jihad · Animal Rights in Islam