Animal Rights the Prophet’s Way
Huda Azam
Time to time, I get drawn towards the Prophet’s (sa) life. It is when life hits in the most bizarre ways that I am forced to travel back in time. I ponder: how have we evolved in our conducts of life? How far have we come in forgetting the guidelines that we should be embracing?
What I state next might not startle you, because norms are generally never questioned. Often, the unquestioned norms are the ones to create the toxicity we cannot comply to.
It has become a common sight to witness animal cruelty. Our lack of understanding for the poor creatures makes us assume that hurting animals is justified. Throughout the age groups (the youngsters and the elders alike), I witness the same attitude disdain and carelessness: for the donkey on the road side, for the cat lazing in the afternoon sunlight or the dog minding its own business in the waste bin. Why do we take cruelty as enjoyment and fun? Is it really? We enjoy the 5-year-old’s innocence in scaring away the birds. Naturally, there is no harm in it, unless and until the child takes the next step. There is no chronological order, in which he may take such next steps that may eventually result in an increasingly intolerant towards animals society.
We hear the news of endangered species being hunted down, and it does not end just there. We ourselves create the norms and make them acceptable. It is not ok to rob animals of their habitats just for our own entertainment. Why are our definitions of fun limited to inflicting brutality on others?
What did the Prophet (sa) do about it? How did the Amin and Siddeeq respond to animal rights in the Arab society where injustice remained prevalent?
‘Ibn Abbas (rtam) said: “An ass with a brand on its face happened to pass before the Prophet (sa). Therefore, he said: ‘May Allah (swt) curse the one, who has branded it (on the face).’” (Muslim)
The young child’s story still continues. The evil foreshadows. We have circuses and bull fights for entertainments. Our leisure literally buys out their freedom.
What should be done? We need to seek the correct meaning of entertainment and Halal enjoyments. Keeping domestic pets is not a bad idea. Altering of mindsets now would decide the cultural norms of the future.
The misconducts of today should not dominate the ideologies of tomorrow. Change must come around, and it should start from us ourselves.
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