Is Killing the Fuwaysiqah and Harmful Animals Obligatory or Recommended?
Question: I thought that it is obligatory to kill fuwaysiqah. Then I have seen that it is recommended with the possibility that it is obligatory. Is it obligatory to kill the harmful creatures or vermin (fuwaysiqah)?
Summary:
Killing the fuwaysiqah and harmful animals is prescribed in Islam, and the basic ruling is that it is recommended rather than obligatory. This is because the Prophet ﷺ commanded the killing of some of them and stated that they are among the harmful creatures that may be killed both inside and outside the Haram. However, killing a harmful animal may become obligatory if killing it is necessary to prevent definite harm to a person and there is no other way to prevent its harm.
Answer:
Firstly: Evidence from the Prophetic Sunnah
From the Sunnah:
- Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.On the authority of Aishah رضي الله عنها, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"There are five animals, all of which are harmful creatures, that may be killed in the Haram: the crow, the kite, the scorpion, the mouse, and the vicious dog."
- Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.On the authority of Umm Sharik رضي الله عنها:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded that geckos be killed."
These two hadiths indicate that killing these creatures is prescribed because of the harm and injury they cause.
Secondly: Does the Command to Kill Indicate Obligation or Recommendation? The basic principle regarding a command in Shariah is that it indicates obligation unless there is evidence that diverts it from obligation. However, many scholars have held that the command to kill the fuwaysiqah indicates recommendation and is not obligatory upon every Muslim. An exception to this is when killing an animal becomes necessary to prevent harm that cannot be prevented except by killing it. In such a case, preventing the harm becomes obligatory according to one's ability. Thirdly: Is It Permissible to Kill Every Animal? It is not permissible to kill animals without a legitimate reason.
From the Sunnah:
- The Two SahihsAbdullah ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ prohibited using living creatures as targets
- Narrated by Muslim.Shaddad ibn Aws رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, Allah has prescribed excellence in all things. So when you kill, kill in a good manner."
Therefore, when it becomes necessary to kill a harmful animal, it is obligatory to avoid torturing it and to choose a method that achieves the intended purpose with the least possible harm.
Fourthly: Statements of the Scholars
From the Scholars:
- Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen رحمه الله said regarding the five harmful creatures:
"It is Sunnah for a person to kill these five harmful creatures, whether he is in the state of Ihram or not, and whether he is within the boundaries of the Haram or outside its boundaries."
The scholars have also transmitted that killing geckos is recommended. This is the view of the majority of those who discussed its ruling, and it has not been established that killing a gecko is obligatory upon everyone who sees one.
Conclusion: The stronger opinion is that killing the fuwaysiqah is recommended and is not obligatory upon every Muslim. A person does not incur sin merely for refraining from killing them. However, if they pose a definite danger to a person's life and that danger cannot be prevented except by killing them, then preventing the harm becomes obligatory according to one's ability, while observing the specific rulings concerning certain animals, such as snakes found inside homes.
And Allah knows best.
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