Is It Permissible to Cremate Pets?


Shafi'i Fiqh

Answered by Shaykh Farid Dingle

Question

Is it permissible to cremate pets?

Answer

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

There are no rituals that apply to the dead body of an animal.

Burying it, cremating it, or disposing of it in any other way is permissible.

Personally, I would avoid cremating it because of the possibility of it still feeling things. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Breaking a corpse’s bones is like breaking them while he is alive’ (Ahmad and Abu Dawud).

It may well be that the pet feels the fire when being cremated, so I would personally avoid it.

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language