The Seal of Prophets - His Personality and Character — Page 33
The Seal of Prophets 33 connotation is that any animal with sensibility and sensitivity to pain is to be treated kindly, and God would reward for all such acts of kindness. Once the Holy Prophet sa saw someone milking a goat and was worried if any milk was left for its kids. He admonished the man to always leave enough milk for the hungry kids. He prohibited his companions from killing any bird or animal, just for the sake of killing. He said: “You will be answerable to God for killing purposelessly and without justification. ” When asked what would be the justification, he said: “You may only kill animals when you need their meat”. He then reminded them that even in killing they must not be bereft of mercy: “Kill in a manner that the animal feels least pain. ” Some people ask me if the modem style of slaughtering is Islamic, which is first stunning the animal, and then slaughtering it. In answer I say that it is not un-Islamic. I do not agree with orthodox Muslim scholars who say that this system was unknown to early Islam. These instruments which help alleviate the pain of animals were not available in those days. However, the principle, that even in killing you should show mercy, was enunciated by the Holy Founder sa of Islam himself.