Do insects have souls like humans, and if they are killed, will one be held accountable for it? And is it permissible to cover drinking vessels out of fear of the devil?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Animals have souls that the Angel of Death seizes by Allah's permission. The ruling on killing insects differs: it is recommended or obligatory to kill those that are harmful, and prohibited to kill those that are not harmful, unless there is a need. Whoever kills them unintentionally bears no sin.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/75440
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 75440
- 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