Is it permissible to say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return," upon the death of animals?
It is prescribed for a Muslim, when afflicted with a calamity, even a minor one, to be patient, seek reward from Allah, and say: "Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return." Allah has praised those who say this, and it is authentically reported in a sound the virtue of one who says: "O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it with something better." Therefore, if a respected, owned animal dies, it is a calamity for which seeking reward from Allah and reciting "إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون" are prescribed, because everything disliked by a believer is a calamity. However, if the animal was forbidden to own, or not owned by him, then reciting "إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون" upon its death is not prescribed. If a person remembers death upon seeing the animal die, and recites "إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون" remembering the return of all creation to their Lord, there is no harm in that, as it is a legitimate contemplation. As for saying "إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون," it is an affirmation of (Oneness of Allah) and an acknowledgment of ownership and servitude, as well as an affirmation of perishing, resurrection, and returning to Allah. It is also permissible to say it upon the death of a disbeliever.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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