Do Muslims need to strive to make the 5 pests mentioned in a hadith extinct?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Hello.

I’m a non-Muslim. I want to become Muslim but I have doubts like the question states because these were created by Allah. A Muslim speaker said they are from the devil most of the time, and suggested they should be made extinct one day. How can God create something for us to make extinct, this isn’t fair?

Answer

Hello.

I pray you’re well.

Thank you for your question. The answer is that it is not obligatory to make these animals extinct, nor is it encouraged to seek them out to be killed. The person you referred to is simply mistaken, and he has not understood the language of the narration.

The Messenger of God said, “Five aggressors may be killed in the Sacred Precinct (around Mecca) and outside it: snakes, crows/magpies, mice, aggressive dogs (or other predatory animals), and kites.“ (Muslim) Other narrations mention scorpions too.

The purpose of the hadith is to show that it is permissible to kill these pests because of their aggressive natures and the harm that they cause. Kites, for example, were known to peck out the eyes of camels. Also, the default ruling is that certain things cannot be killed in and around Mecca, and this narration is a dispensation regarding them. (Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim)

The wording is similar to the wording the Qur’an uses to say it is permissible;e for mothers to suckle their children for two complete years. (Qur’an, 2:233) If we followed the same logic we’d have to say it is obligatory for them to suckle their children, but this is not the case. It is optional.

Likewise, completely eliminating these creatures is not something Islam demands. Please refer to this answer for a similar discussion.

I pray God facilitates this journey for you. It’s best if you take your knowledge of Islam from a sound source. You’ll find much reliable information at SeekerGuidance from many scholars and teachers from around the world.  I pray it benefits you.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.