This article will not cover every animal mentioned in Islam; we plan to dedicate future articles to discussing various animals referenced in the Holy Quran or the purified Sunnah—God willing. In this piece, we will focus specifically on certain species that Islam has addressed and successfully fostered—a success so significant that an entire Surah (chapter) of the Quran is named after one of them, underscoring their profound impact on the environment.
1- The Sheep
The Almighty says:
"And He created the livestock; in them, you have warmth and [other] benefits, and from them, you eat."
The Almighty—Blessed and Exalted is He—informs us that He created livestock for specific purposes. Their wool provides warmth, their meat serves as food, and their other benefits are countless. Examples include:
1- They play a role in biodiversity, which in turn helps combat global warming (for instance, by aiding in the dispersal of plants).
2- They contribute to aesthetics and beauty—enhancing the overall appearance of a farm.
4- Certain animals—such as primates (a type of mammal)—are now being studied or utilized in ways that suggest a higher level of interaction; they have been used in scientific experiments and may, in the future, even be employed in military contexts (as is the case with chimpanzees).
5- Some domestic animals (such as cats, dogs, and even horses) now play a role in patient care and can help mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
6- Farmers rely on various types of animals for agricultural tasks, such as tilling the land and maintaining vegetation.
The sheep suffer from bloody wounds.
In the wool industry, abuse is widespread. Investigations by PETA have revealed workers punching, kicking, and stomping on sheep, striking them in the face with electric clippers, and standing on their heads and limbs.
Even in facilities falsely labeled as "humane,
" The workers have been observed tossing gentle animals down slopes as if they were trash, cutting them during the shearing process, and throwing or striking them.
Uncertified farms have shown similar levels of abuse, proving that—regardless of how it is marketed—wool is the product of violence against sheep.
The wool production exacerbates the climate crisis.
The sheep release vast quantities of methane into the atmosphere—they have even been dubbed the "Humvees" of the animal kingdom. This is according to the Higg Materials Sustainability Index (Higg MSI), a measurement tool based on over a decade of data collection and industry development.
According to the Higg MSI,
The environmental impact of wool is 1.46 times greater than that of rayon, 1.66 times greater than acrylic, 2.23 times greater than polyester, and 2.96 times greater than spandex. Another study found that the production of a single Australian wool sweater generates approximately 27 times more greenhouse gas emissions than the production of a cotton sweater.
2- The Cats
Kabshah bint Ka’b ibn Malik—who was married to the son of Abu Qatadah—reported that Abu Qatadah once entered the house, and she poured water for him to perform ablution. A cat came along and drank from the water, so he tilted the vessel toward it until it had finished drinking. Kabshah noted that he saw her watching him, and he asked, "Are you surprised, my niece?" She replied, "Yes." He then said, "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'They are not impure; they are among those that frequently move about among you.'" [Authentic (Sahih)] — Narrated by Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa’i, Ahmad, and al-Darimi.
The lessons from this noble Hadith:
The cats are gentle creatures that one may encounter in daily life; they might enter your home uninvited, especially if you live in a rural area or have a garden. The water they have touched remains permissible (halal) to use for cleaning or other purposes. Furthermore, if water is scarce—as is the case in many parts of the world—it is even permissible to drink from the water that remains after a cat has drunk from it.
The Impact on the Climate
The environmental impact of pets is often overlooked. Yet, more than half of the world’s population keeps a pet at home, and this number is on the rise. As of 2023, pet ownership in the United States has reached 66% of households—an increase from 56% in 1988.
The uncertain Impact of Pet Food
The research on the environmental impact of pet food remains limited. Furthermore, some existing studies have yielded questionable results; one study published last year suggested that feeding a 10 kg dog (roughly the size of a standard dachshund) a wet-food diet generates the equivalent of 6,541 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually—an amount equal to 98% of the total emissions produced by an average Brazilian citizen. In contrast, a dry-food diet for the same dog would result in emissions equivalent to 828 kg of CO2.
The point is
That Islam does not explicitly address the keeping of pets—at least not in the sense of animals living permanently inside a home—unless the dwelling is an open-style structure, such as a villa, a single-story house, or something similar. Regarding dogs, there is the account of a woman—a prostitute—who found a dog in the desert; seeing its thirst, she gave it water, and for this, God forgave her. As for cats, the tradition concerning a woman who confined a cat and failed to feed it—stating that she was destined for the Fire—implies that keeping a cat at home is permissible. Furthermore, another tradition describes cats as "those who move about among you" (lit. "those who go around"), suggesting that they venture into outdoor spaces and then return home, rather than remaining indoors at all times. This reduces the burden on the owner regarding the animal's consumption of meat, as the animal is not confined entirely to the household. And God knows best.
3-4 - The Birds (specifically the *humra*—a type of small bird) and Insects
(The Ants and Bees)
We were traveling with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when he went away to attend to a personal need. During his absence, we saw a *humra* bird with its two chicks, so we took them. The bird returned and began fluttering in distress. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) arrived, he asked, "Who has distressed this bird by taking its young? Return them to her." He also noticed an anthill that we had set on fire and asked, "Who set this on fire?" We replied, "We did." He said, "It is not fitting for anyone to punish with fire except the Lord of the Fire."
First: The Impact of Birds on the Environment (Birds as Environmental Indicators)
Humans have devised a variety of tools to monitor the health of ecosystems. For instance, to assess water quality in wetlands, an ecologist might use a sensor to measure dissolved oxygen levels or conduct laboratory chemical analyses to detect heavy metals in the soil. In some cases, however, we can observe changes in a habitat without the need for such tools, as studying the presence and behavior of birds can provide insight into shifts within an ecosystem.
Second: The Impact of Burning on Ants and the Environment
The First Study
In forests, the intensity of burning served as a significant indicator of ant species richness in both 2003 and 2004; however, the nature of this relationship varied between the two years. This finding suggests that the impact of a disturbance on ant species richness may depend not only on the intensity of the disturbance itself but also on the time elapsed since it occurred. Given the ecological importance of ants within forest ecosystems, our results offer broader insights into the long-term sustainability of forest management practices.
The Second Study
There is a study I have searched for extensively but have been unable to locate. It posits that when ant habitats are burned, the surviving ants—those that did not perish due to the drastic alteration of their environment—exhibit longer legs, larger body sizes, and an increased propensity for predation. Furthermore, the study suggests that such habitats may become host to bacteria and viruses previously unknown to that environment. Naturally, this claim requires scientific verification—yet, despite my efforts, I have been unable to find the study in question.
Study Three
In fire-prone regions, wildfires play a vital role in shaping animal communities—particularly for groups such as ants, which are closely associated with vegetation and soil. This study evaluates the taxonomic and functional responses of ant species to fire within forested landscapes (pine plantations) in northern Morocco. Given that such landscapes are often suboptimal for many taxonomic groups, we hypothesized that ant communities might exhibit positive responses to fire. Specifically, we posited that: (1) increased openness following a fire enhances the richness and abundance of ant species in burned plots; and (2) fire triggers shifts in the functional traits of ant communities, altering their composition by favoring species with adaptations suited to a post-fire environment. Our findings reveal that fire altered both the taxonomic composition (identifying "winner" and "loser" ant species) and the functional composition (resulting in higher functional richness in burned plots) of the ant communities. Burned areas harbored a greater abundance of ant species adapted to open habitats—characterized by ground-nesting habits, ground-level foraging, and a preference for readily available resources such as seeds. In contrast, unburned plots hosted species well-adapted to dense vegetation, utilizing arboreal nesting and foraging strategies, as well as resource niches within the tree canopy. Overall, we found that fires significantly shape ant communities by facilitating the arrival of species that are tolerant of open areas and capable of exploiting new resources that become available in post-fire habitats.
The Insights from Previous Studies
Regarding the knowledge possessed by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): he understood that burning ants—or destroying their habitats—would render those environments permanently incapable of returning to their original state. He simply said to his noble companions, "None should punish with fire except the Lord of the Fire." He did not delve into scientific details that would have been impossible for the minds of that era to comprehend.
The Bees
Allah Says
﴿ وَأَوْحَى رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنِ أتَّخِذِي مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ ثم كُلِي مِن كُلِّ الثَمرَاتِ فَاسْلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلِلاً يَخْرُجُ مِن. بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاء لِلنَّاسِ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
"And your Lord inspired the bee, saying: 'Take for yourself dwellings in the mountains, in the trees, and in what [men] construct. Then eat from all the fruits, and follow the paths of your Lord, made easy [for you].' He emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in its colors, in which there is healing for mankind. Indeed, in that is a sign for a people who reflect."
The noble verse is clear, yet it carries many profound implications, including
1- "Your Lord inspired the bee": We understand from this that God Almighty communicates with the bee—for "inspiration" (*wahy*) here signifies a hidden form of communication, which we might term "instinct."
3- In many countries today—such as England and Israel—there are organizations dedicated to protecting bees from extinction. They are also utilized for environmental purposes and the preservation of biodiversity, as they pollinate 120,000 different plant species.
4- The verse mentions: "There emerges from their bellies..." It is God Almighty Himself who brings this forth. Why such attention toward a mere insect? He reveals a secret to it and personally draws out the very best it has to offer. There is a gentle lesson here: never underestimate anyone or anything; what you might deem insignificant, others may value highly. As the old saying goes, "God places His secrets in the weakest of His creations."
5- Furthermore, if you engage in the work that God has facilitated for you—for "everyone is enabled to perform the task for which they were created"—rest assured that God Himself will bring forth the best of what you have to offer. You must strive, exert effort, and make sacrifices; in time, your labor will yield a rich harvest.
6- "In it is healing for people"—this is well known regarding bees. But what about you? Can you, too, be a source of healing, comfort, and purification for the souls around you? Focus on fulfilling your own role, rather than fixating solely on the results. Consider the diversity of the bee’s tasks, its reliability in mastering its work, and its total dedication—even unto death—and realize that if you were to emulate such commitment, you would surely achieve great things.
7- Naturally, this is but a small glimpse into the story of this insect—a reflection intended not for the heedless, but for those who contemplate. And God is Most High and All-Knowing.
The Facts About Honey Bees
(Mostly sourced from the Texas A&M University Honey Bee Information site)
The Bees have 5 eyes.
Bees are insects with 6 legs.
Male bees in a colony are called drones.
Bees fly at a speed of 20 miles per hour.
Female bees in a colony (excluding the queen) are called worker bees.
A queen bee can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day.
If a bee loses its ability to assist the colony, it will die.
The Bees have existed for about 30 million years!
The Bees carry pollen on their hind legs in a structure called a pollen basket, or corbicula.
An average beehive can contain about 50,000 bees.
Forager bees must collect nectar from approximately two million flowers to produce one pound of honey.
Over the course of its entire life, an average forager bee produces about 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey.
The average per capita consumption of honey in the United States is 1.3 pounds.
The Bees have two pairs of wings.
The primary form of communication among bees is through chemical substances called pheromones.
The Bees are important because they pollinate about 130 agricultural crops in the United States, including fruits, fibers, nuts, and vegetables. Bee pollination adds nearly $14 billion annually to the value of crops by improving both yield and quality.
Should "honey bee" be written as one word or two?
Many people notice that dictionaries list "honeybee" as a single word. Entomologists, however, use the two-word term "honey bee." Both are correct.
In conclusion,
just two questions—nothing more:
Who cares more about ecosystems: God (glorified and exalted be He) or modern environmental protection organizations?
And does this serve as evidence for the existence of God—blessed and exalted be He?
For it is He who conveyed this information to an unlettered Prophet—who could neither read nor write—and reality has proven that these facts defy conventional expectations.