What is the ruling on preventing one animal from killing or harming another?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
A person is not obliged to prevent one animal from attacking another unless the animal being attacked is a "respected animal" (hayawan muhtaram), meaning one whose killing is forbidden by Islamic law. Examples include a hunting dog or a guard dog. Whoever is able to save a respected animal from perishing and does not do so is sinful. Scholars have placed the respected animal in the same category as an infallible human being regarding the obligation to defend and save it. It is also forbidden to incite animals against each other.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/189333
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 189333
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy