What is the ruling on killing harmless insects like butterflies, and does fearing them permit killing them?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Among insects, some have been commanded by the Shari'ah to be killed, such as scorpions, and some have been forbidden from being killed, such as bees and ants, unless they cause harm. The default is not to kill insects about which nothing has been specified, unless they cause harm and their harm cannot be averted except by killing them. Butterflies are not to be killed unless they are harmful and their harm cannot be averted except by killing them.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/191235
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 191235
- 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