Are Zoos allowed in Islam?  What does Islam say about animal cruelty?

Introduction and my appeal to you!

Animals can roam 100s of square miles.  Locking them in cages is worse than life in prison with hard labor! Allah Almighty created animals to live in communities like us.  This means that He created means of communication and understanding for them (languages as we call it).  This simply raises the animals to a level which prohibits us to imprison them and to lock them up for life in zoos:

"There is not an animal (That lives) on the earth, Nor a being that flies On its wings, but (forms Part of) communities like you.  Nothing have We omitted From the Book, and they (all) Shall be gathered to their Lord In the end.  (The Noble Quran, 6:38)"

"Seest thou not that it is God Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise. And God knows well all that they do.  (The Noble Quran, 24:41)"

"Seest thou not that to God bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth,- the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment: and such as God shall disgrace,- None can raise to honour: for God carries out all that He wills.  (The Noble Quran, 22:18)"

Since animals live in communities like us, and they Pray to GOD Almighty like we do but in their own way that GOD Almighty ordained for them, this makes them deserve to live a free and open life, and not to be locked up in prisons (zoos and cages at our home).

We live in a world today where mistreatment of prisoners of war is a big deal.  We raise hell if humans are mistreated.  But what about our animal prisoners?  We sentence those poor creatures to life in prisons (zoos and cages in our homes), and we entertain ourselves really well through their suffering.  We lock them up in cages at our homes while they can fly or swim 100s of square miles in a matter of couple of days.

You might have a good point in keeping farm animals in your yard or farm.  This is not animal imprisonment or cruelty.  Farm animals such as goats and horses, and pet animals such as cats and dogs don't mind living with humans.  But keeping wild animals, birds and fishes locked in cages is torture to these innocent creatures.

Please say no to zoos and pets imprisonment (i.e., locked up birds and fishes)!

I personally never take my family to any zoo!  As long as I live, my kids will never visit any zoo, insha'Allah (if Allah Almighty is Willing).

Animal cruelty used to be and still is part of many humans' cultures:

Animals not only suffer in prisons from us, but they also suffer a great torture by us.   Think about the World's popular sports from "Bear Bating", where they unleash several pit bull dogs to attack a bear tied to a metal pole, or a bull fight a bear.

Think about the "Bull Fight" sport, where a man fights a bull with his swords, and slowly and painfully stabs the bull with those swords until the bull collapses and dies.  This sport is very popular today in Europe.

Think about the "Dog Fights" sport, where they bring two dogs to fight each others to death and make bets on them.

Think about the "Cock Fights" or the "Rooster Fights", where similar to the dogs fights, they would bring two roosters to fight each others to death and make bets on them.

Think about the "Animals' Hunting Seasons" such as hunting mountain lions, ducks and dears in Canada and the US.  As a human and a Muslim, I can appreciate hunting dears and ducks for food.  But I can never appreciate hunting mountain lions for recreation.

Think about the illegal hunting of bears world wide to get their gulp bladder, because some ridiculous Pagan Chinese tradition suggests that if you eat a bear gulf bladder, then you should heal from your diseases and become a lot stronger.  Medically this had all been proven to be a bunch of garbage!

So what does Islam say about all of this?

Allah Almighty created animals to live in communities like us.  This means that He created means of communication and understanding for them (languages as we call it).  This simply raises the animals to a level which prohibits us to imprison them and to lock them up for life in zoos:

"There is not an animal (That lives) on the earth, Nor a being that flies On its wings, but (forms Part of) communities like you.   Nothing have We omitted From the Book, and they (all) Shall be gathered to their Lord In the end.  (The Noble Quran, 6:38)"

"Seest thou not that it is God Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise. And God knows well all that they do.  (The Noble Quran, 24:41)"

"Seest thou not that to God bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth,- the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment: and such as God shall disgrace,- None can raise to honour: for God carries out all that He wills.  (The Noble Quran, 22:18)"

Since animals live in communities like us, and they Pray to GOD Almighty like we do but in their own way that GOD Almighty ordained for them, this makes them deserve to live a free and open life, and not to be locked up in prisons (zoos and cages at our home).

Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him DIRECTLY forbade animal cruelty and imprisonment:

Before we look the Sayings and Commands of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, it is important to know that according to the Noble Quran, Allah Almighty ordered the Muslims to obey the Prophet and to follow his commands.

Allah Almighty said in the Noble Quran:

"O ye who believe! Obey God, and obey the Apostle, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to God and His Apostle, if ye do believe in God and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.  (The Noble Quran, 4:59)"

"When there comes to them some matter touching (Public) safety or fear, they divulge it. If they had only referred it to the Apostle, or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have Tested it from them (direct). Were it not for the Grace and Mercy of God unto you, all but a few of you would have fallen into the clutches of Satan.  (The Noble Quran, 4:83)"

Having said that, let us look at some of the Sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him:

Animal cruelty and imprisonment are clearly prohibited in Islam!  Let us look at what Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said:

Narrated Abu Huraira:  "The Prophet said, 'A man saw a dog eating mud from (the severity of) thirst. So, that man took a shoe (and filled it) with water and kept on pouring the water for the dog till it quenched its thirst. So Allah approved of his deed and made him to enter Paradise.'  (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Ablutions (Wudu'), Volume 1, Book 4, Number 174)"

Narrated Ibn 'Umar:  "The Prophet said, 'A woman entered the (Hell) Fire because of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth.'  (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Beginning of Creation, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 535)" 

Narrated Asma' bint Abi Bakr:  'The Prophet once offered the eclipse prayer. He stood for a long time and then did a prolonged bowing. He stood up straight again and kept on standing for a long time, then bowed a long bowing and then stood up straight and then prostrated a prolonged prostration and then lifted his head and prostrated a prolonged prostration. And then he stood up for a long time and then did a prolonged bowing and then stood up straight again and kept on standing for a long time. Then he bowed a long bowing and then stood up straight and then prostrated a prolonged prostration and then lifted his head and went for a prolonged prostration.

On completion o the prayer, he said, "Paradise became s near to me that if I had dared, I would have plucked one of its bunches for you and Hell became so near to me that said, 'O my Lord will I be among those people?' Then suddenly I saw a woman and a cat was lacerating her with it claws. On inquiring, it was said that the woman had imprisoned the cat till it died of starvation and she neither fed it no freed it so that it could feed itself.'  (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Characteristics of Prayer, Volume 1, Book 12, Number 712)"

Animals do worship Allah Almighty and thus need to be respected:

"Seest thou not that to God bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth,- the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment: and such as God shall disgrace,- None can raise to honour: for God carries out all that He wills.  (The Noble Quran, 22:18)"

"Seest thou not that it is God Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise. And God knows well all that they do.  (The Noble Quran, 24:41)"

What about the animal sacrifices in Islam?

Animal sacrifices in Islam are only meant to feed the poor and the needy.  Allah Almighty doesn't really care for the sacrifice, nor does animal sacrifice really mean much to Allah Almighty:

"The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the symbols from God: in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of God over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have We made animals subject to you, that ye may be grateful.   It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches God: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify God for His Guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do right.  Verily God will defend (from ill) those who believe: verily, God loveth not any that is a traitor to faith, or show ingratitude.  (The Noble Quran, 22:36-38)"

Muslims are not vegetarians.  We do eat some animals for nutrition.  But we are not supposed to cause animals to live in prisons, or to die slow and painful deaths.   When an animal is due to be killed, then it will be put to death in the appropriate Islamic way.

Important Note:  I was taught that either Prophet Muhammad or his second Caliph Omar (I don't remember), commanded us that when we kill an animal, we must not kill it in front of another animal.  The animal must be killed privately so the other animal wouldn't get scared.

So what does the Bible say about animal torture and imprisonment?

Note:  We will shortly see the New Testament's disregard and cruelty to animals.

In the Old Testaments, animal cruelty to domestic animals, such as farm animals, is prohibited.  Let us look at the following verse:

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.  (From the NIV Bible, Proverbs 12:10)"

Even though the first half of this verse speaks DIRECTLY about pets and farm animals only and not about all animals in general, but the second half of it clearly prohibits cruel acts in general, hence this should prohibit animal cruelty in general.

But the notorious book of man-alterations, corruption and contradictions always has verses that nullify and contradict others.  Similar to the joke of "thou shalt not murder" in one of its ten commandments, where we see even "suckling infants" along with women, children and unarmed men were ordered to be executed by the tens of thousands, the Old Testament has the same absurd contradiction in it regarding animals.  The following verses contain the two topics that I just spoke about.

1 Samuel 15:2-4

2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.

For more biblical verses on raping 3-year old slave girls, YES THREE YEARS OLD GIRLS raped by Moses of the bible and his men!!!, terrorism, and murders, please visit:

The Bible's terrorism, pedophilia and murders.

Anyway, back to Proverbs 12:10 above, I am not sure if this verse really clearly addresses imprisonment of animals (i.e., zoos).  There is more to just feeding your animal.  As we clearly see above, Islam prohibits imprisonment and mistreatment of animals.  Islam also commands the Muslims to treat the animals with respect, because they too worship Allah Almighty just like humans do. 

Proverbs 12:10 does not address the treatment of animals as Islam does!

The verse is too general and too ambiguous if we wish to prohibit zoos through it.

The New Testament's cruelty toanimals:

In the New Testament, Jesus showed no regard to animal value.  Like the OT, they can be annihilated by humans without the act being considered as a sin:

"He [Jesus] said to them, 'Go!' so they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.  (From the NIV Bible, Matthew 8:32)"

Modern "Bull Fights" in Europe and the American Rodeo where cowboys fight little bull calves and twist their necks and even drag them with ropes wrapped tight around their necks are all proofs that Christians and their churches don't really have much regard for animals.

Let it be known!

Let it be known that we Muslims do not believe in the evil that the corrupted bible says about GOD Almighty's Holy Prophets.  The bible, even according to its own theologians, is a corrupted book.  It is not the Original Holy and Pure Word of GOD Almighty.  It is a rewrite and a personal interpretation of those unknown men who wrote its "books" and "gospels".  This is clearly stated by the bible's own theologians.  You can see the proof for yourself at:

http://www.answering-christianity.com/authors_gospels.htm

http://www.answering-christianity.com/contra.htm#manuscripts

But zoos are educational for our kids:

Well, if you're so desperate to teach your kids about animals, then have them watch the "Animal Planet" or the "Discovery" TV channels.  There is nothing extra educational about animals at the zoo.  Animals look the same on TV as they do at the zoo.

If you still insist that zoos are educational and we must have them for our children, then how about locking yourself up in a small cage at the zoo, so we can all learn about the "Human Animal" and how it can live in a cage, or should I say jail for the rest of its life!

Is that fair enough?

Muslim and non-Muslim countries all have zoos today!

Pretty much almost every country in the world today has a zoo.  The issue that I am raising however is that Christians today don't mind zoos and animal imprisonment.   In fact as I mentioned above, many Christians have pets such as birds locked up in cages and fishes locked up in glass boxes filled with water.  They see no problem with it from the Bible.

Muslims too today don't mind animal imprisonment and they practice it.  But the religious Muslims don't agree with the zoos because Islam clearly prohibited animal imprisonment.  The Bible never addressed the issue. 

I never judge a religion based on what its followers do.  I judge it based on what it teaches its followers.

For instance, if the Bible prohibited animal imprisonment and all Jews and Christians today still violate the Bible and practice it, then I would still be glad to mention that the Bible clearly prohibits animal imprisonment despite if all of its followers disregard its command.

Those Muslims who know about Islam's prohibition to animal imprisonment and torture, and still go to zoos with their own free will are hypocrites!

Conclusion:

Zoos and animal cruelty and imprisonment are clearly prohibited in Islam.  As I demonstrated above, there is no question about that!  Islam is a religion that is full of Mercy and respect to animals.  The man-altered and man-corrupted (according to its own theologians) Bible on the other hand has little or even no regard for animals. 

Allah Almighty in the Noble Quran valued animals and clearly Stated that they even Pray to Him, all Praise and Glory are due to Him.  He, the Almighty, Said that they worship Him in the Way that He ordained to them as we Worship Him in the way that was ordained to us (by bowing our arrogant faces down to the ground in humility before Him):

"Serve God, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: For God loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious;-   (The Noble Quran, 4:36)"

"But to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, He will give their (due) rewards,- and more, out of His bounty: But those who are disdainful and arrogant, He will punish with a grievous penalty; Nor will they find, besides God, any to protect or help them.  (The Noble Quran, 4:173)"

"(God) said: "Get thee down from this: it is not for thee to be arrogant here: get out, for thou art of the meanest (of creatures)."  (The Noble Quran, 7:13)"

The Bible on the other hand makes no mention in regards to respecting animals.

At any rate, whether you are a Muslim or non-Muslim, if you have the least humanity in you, then please do not go to any zoo.  Do not support any organization that tortures and imprisons animals, and most of all, Please do not imprison fishes and birds in your home!  I encourage you to remove such poor "pets" and grant them mercy and freedom, so in the end GOD Almighty would have some mercy on your soul at the Day of Judgement.

Don't be like that woman who got tortured in Hell Fire because of an innocent cat, as Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, narrated to us.