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Sahih al-BukhariProphets

A woman was tormented because of a cat which she had kept locked up until it died, and she was thrown into Hell for that. She neither gave it food or drink when she locked it up nor freed it so that it would eat from the vermin of the earth

Authentic hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 3482

Narrator:Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَسْمَاءَ، حَدَّثَنَا جُوَيْرِيَةُ بْنُ أَسْمَاءَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏

عُذِّبَتِ امْرَأَةٌ فِي هِرَّةٍ سَجَنَتْهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ، فَدَخَلَتْ فِيهَا النَّارَ، لاَ هِيَ أَطْعَمَتْهَا وَلاَ سَقَتْهَا إِذْ حَبَسَتْهَا، وَلاَ هِيَ تَرَكَتْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الأَرْضِ ‏"

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A woman was tormented because of a cat which she had kept locked up until it died, and she was thrown into Hell for that. She neither gave it food or drink when she locked it up nor freed it so that it would eat from the vermin of the earth."

Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 3482) and Muslim (No. 2242a, 2242d).

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Explanation

In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told about a woman who was thrown into Hell – we seek refuge with Allah from it – because of a cat which she kept locked up until it died. She neither provided it with food and water while keeping it locked up, nor let it eat from the insects of the earth.

If this is the punishment for doing this to animals, so how severe would it be in relation to the human being whose life is inviolable under Shariah, and whom Allah placed under one's care, like the wife, children, servants, etc.?!

Explanation in Arabic

أخبر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في هذا الحديث عن امرأة دخلت النار -والعياذ بالله-، والسبب في ذلك أنها حبست قطة حتى ماتت، فلا هي أطعمتها وسقتها، ولا هي تركتها تأكل من حشرات الأرض تطلب رزقها لنفسها،

وإذا كان هذا الوعيد في البهائم، فكيف يكون الإثم بالإنسان المعصوم؛ ممن ولاَّهم الله إيَّاهم: من زوجةٍ، وولدٍ، وخادمٍ، وغيرهم؟!

  • جَوَاز اتِّخَاذ الْهِرَّة ورباطها إِذا لم يهمل إطعامها وسقيها، وَيلْحق بهَا غَيرهَا مِمَّا فِي مَعْنَاهَا.
  • تحريم حبس الحيوان وإجاعته.
  • تحريم قتل الهر، فإن العذاب إنما يكون على فعل محرم بغير سبب يبيح ذلك.
  • الإنسان إذا أهمل ما تحت يده من غير البشر, وعُذِّب بذلك فتعذيبه من أجل البشر من باب أولى.
  • إثبات العذاب في النار، وأن الله -عز وجل- أطلع عليه نبيه -صلى الله عليه وسلم-.
  • بيان فضل الإسلام ورحمته وشفقته بالمخلوقات حتى الحيوانات التي لا تُؤكل ولا تُستخدَم إذا حُبست فإنه يجب على من حبسها أن يقوم بكفايتها.

Classical commentary

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani — Fath al-Bari

حَدَيث عَبْد اللَّه وَهُوَ اِبْن عُمَر فِي الَّتِي رَبَطَتْ الْهِرَّة وَلَمْ أَقِف عَلَى اِسْمهَا , لَكِنْ تَقَدَّمَ أَنَّهَا سَوْدَاء وَأَنَّهَا حِمْيَرِيَّة وَأَنَّهَا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيل , وَأَنَّهُ لَا تَنَافِيَ بَيْن ذَلِكَ , وَتَقَدَّمَ شَرْحه فِي أَوَاخِر بَدْء الْخَلْق.…

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Scholars’ grades

ScholarGradeApplies toWork
Al-Bukharid. 256 AH Authenticصحيح The hadith صحيح البخاري No. 3482
Grades of other versions (1)
  • AuthenticMuslim صحيح — صحيح مسلم (2242)

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2242a

A woman was punished because she had kept a cat tied until it died, and (as a punishment of this offence) she was thrown into the Hell. She had not provided it with food, or drink, and had not freed her so that she could eat the vermin of the earth.

عُذِّبَتِ امْرَأَةٌ فِي هِرَّةٍ سَجَنَتْهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ فَدَخَلَتْ فِيهَا النَّارَ لاَ هِيَ أَطْعَمَتْهَا وَسَقَتْهَا إِذْ حَبَسَتْهَا وَلاَ هِيَ تَرَكَتْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الأَرْضِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2242d

A woman was tormented because of a cat which she had confined until it died and she had to get into Hell. She did not allow it either to eat or drink as it was confined, nor did she free it so that it might eat the vermin of the earth.

عُذِّبَتِ امْرَأَةٌ فِي هِرَّةٍ سَجَنَتْهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ فَدَخَلَتْ فِيهَا النَّارَ لاَ هِيَ أَطْعَمَتْهَا وَسَقَتْهَا إِذْ هِيَ حَبَسَتْهَا وَلاَ هِيَ تَرَكَتْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الأَرْضِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Riyad as-Salihin 1600

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A woman was punished in Hell because of a cat which she had confined until it died. She did not give it to eat or to drink when it was confined, nor did she free it so that it might eat the vermin of the earth." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

"‏عذبت امرأة في هِرة حبستها حتى ماتت، فدخلت فيها النار، لا هي أطعمتها وسقتها، إذ هي حبستها، ولا هي تركتها تأكل من خشاش الأرض‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Bulugh al-Maram 1157

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "A woman was punished on account of a cat which she held captive till it died. Hence, she entered the Hell-Fire due to (her mistreatment of) the cat. She did not feed it or give it water while she held it captive, nor did she let it out so that it may eat the things that creep…

وَعَنْ اِبْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا; عَنْ اَلنَّبِيِّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَالَ: { عُذِّبَتْ اِمْرَأَةٌ فِي هِرَّةٍ سَجَنَتْهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ, فَدَخَلْتِ اَلنَّارَ فِيهَا, لَا هِيَ أَطْعَمَتْهَا…

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

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A man sinned greatly against himself, and when death came to him he charged his sons, saying: When I have died, burn me, then crush me and scatter [my ashes] into the sea, for, by Allah, if my Lord takes possession of me, He will punish me in a manner in which He has punished no one [else]. So they…

عَنْ أَبي هُرَيْرَةَ ، رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ، عَنِ النَّبَيِّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ ، قَالَ : أَسْرَفَ رَجُلٌ عَلي نَفْسِهِ ، فَلَمَّا حَضَرَهُ المَوْتُ أَوْصَى بَنِيه ، فَقَالَ : إِذَا أَنَا مِتُّ…

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Not graded Al-Adab al-Mufrad 379

'You did not feed it nor give it water when you imprisoned it nor did you release it and let it eat from the plants of the earth."

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ‏:‏ عُذِّبَتِ امْرَأَةٌ فِي هِرَّةٍ حَبَسَتْهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ جُوعًا…

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Authentic Sahih Muslim 904a

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The Prophet (ﷺ) 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. "

دَخَلَتِ امْرَأَةٌ النَّارَ فِي هِرَّةٍ رَبَطَتْهَا، فَلَمْ تُطْعِمْهَا، وَلَمْ تَدَعْهَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْ خِشَاشِ الأَرْضِ

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