Lesson 67 Consoling and Animal Care

Consoling and Mourning: Consoling can be given for three days, except for someone who is absent or who lives far away.

Food should be prepared for the family of the deceased.

Qur’an should be recited as a sort of supplication for the dead, but without payment.

Also charity can be distributed after paying the debts of the deceased.

Mourning should not exceed three days, except for the mourning of the Muslim wife for her husband.

It is recommended to visit tombs as a kind of remembrance of the Hereafter and as a supplication for Muslims.

It is offensive for women to visit tombs often.

Good manners towards animals: Be kind and never be cruel to them.

Good manners towards animals: Give them food and drink

Good manners towards animals: Avoid killing them except for fear of their harm.

Good manners towards animals: Make them comfortable while slaughtering.

Evidence from the Qur ’ an and Sunnah

Consolation: The Prophet (SAWS) said, "Any believer who condoles his brother (another believer) at a time of calamity, Allah clothes him (the condoler) of the garments of dignity on the Day of Judgment.“ (Reported by Ibn-Majah)

Usamah Ibn-Zayd (RA) said: “While we were with the Prophet of Allah (SAWS), one of his daughters sent to him informing that her child was dying and she asked him to come. The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) told her messenger to go back and tell her that what Allah had taken belonged to Him, and to him belonged what He granted; and He has an appointed time for everything. So you (messenger) order her to show endurance and seek reward from Allah.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Prepare food for the family of Ja`far for there came upon them an incident which has engaged them.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “The soul of a believer is suspended (from his entry to heaven) until the payment of his debt.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

Abu-Hurayrah (RA) narrated: “A person said to Allah's Messenger (SAWS): My father died and left behind property without making any will regarding it. Would he be relieved of the burden of his sin if I give Sadaqah on his behalf? He (the Prophet) said: Yes.” (Reported by Muslim, an-Nasa’iyy, and Ahmad)

Mourning: The Prophet (SAWS) said: “It is not lawful for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to observe mourning for one who has died more than three nights, except for four months and ten days in the case of a husband.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

Visiting the graves: `Abdullah Ibn-`Abbas (RA) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) cursed women who visit graves often.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “I forbade you to visit graves, now you may visit them, for in visiting them there is admonition.” (Reported by Abu-Dawud)

Good manners toward animals: The Prophet (SAWS) said: “A woman was punished because of a cat which she had jailed until it died and hence she entered the Hell. She did not allow it to eat or drink as it was confined, nor did she free it so that it might eat the insects of the earth.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Who has put this bird to distress by taking its offspring? Whoever did so should return them to it.” (Reported by Abu-Dawud)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “For no one punishes with fire except the Lord of the fire.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Horses are kept for one of three purposes: A man may keep them (for Allah's Cause) to receive a reward in the Hereafter; another may keep them as a means of protection; and a third may keep them to be a burden for him.

As for the man for whom the horse is a source of reward, he is the one who ties it for Allah's Cause, and he ties it with a long rope in a pasture or a garden, then, whatever it eats or drinks in that pasture or garden will be added to his good deeds. And if it breaks its rope and jumps over one or two hills, then, for all its footsteps and its manure, good deeds will be written for him. …

… And if it passes by a river and drinks of its water though its owner had no intention to water it from that river, even then he will have good deeds written for him. So that horse will be (a source of) reward for such a man.

If a man ties a horse for earning his livelihood and abstaining from asking others for help and he does not forget Allah's right, i.e. pays its Zakah and gives it to be used in Allah's Cause, then that horse will be a means of protection for him. But if a man ties it out of pride and to show off and to excite others, then that horse will be a burden (of sins) for him.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

Proper slaughtering: The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Verily Allah has prescribed kind attitude towards everything. So, when you sacrifice (an animal), do it in a good way. If you slaughter, let it be in the best manner. Let one of you sharpen his knife and comfort his sacrificial animal (reduce its pain).” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

Avoid killing animals: Anas Ibn Malik (RA) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) prohibited shooting the animals with arrows until they are dead.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Five kinds of animals are mischief-doers and can be killed even in the Sanctuary: They are the rat, the scorpion, the kite, the crow and the rabid dog.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)