Ahadith

Ibn Umar relates that he passed by some Quraish youths who were shooting arrows at a bird they had tied down, having made a bargain with the owner of the bird that he should have every arrow of theirs that missed, When they saw Ibn Umar they dispersed. Ibn Umar said: Who has done this? May Allah’s curse be upon him who has done this. The Holy Prophet has cursed him who makes a target of a living thing (Bokhari and Muslim).

Anas relates that the Holy Prophet forbade an animal being made a target (Bokhari and Muslim).

Abu Ali Su‘ud ibn Mugqrin relates: I was one of seven Bani Mugrin and between us we had only one maid servant. The youngest of us happened to slap her and the Holy Prophet commanded that she should be set free (Muslim).

Abu Mas‘ud Badri relates: I was striking a slave with a whip when I heard a voice from behind me: Beware Abu Mas'‘ud. I had been so upset that I did not recognise the voice till the person drew near and I discovered it was the Holy Prophet and he was saying: Beware Abu Mas‘ud, Allah has more power over you than you have over this slave; and I responded: I shall never strike a slave again. Another version is: The whip fell from my hand in awe of the Holy Prophet. Another version is: Messenger of Allah, I set him free to win the pleasure of Allah. The Holy Prophet observed: If you had not done that you would have been singed by the Fire (Muslim).

Ibn Umar relates that the Holy Prophet said: The atonement for beating or slapping a slave on the face for something he has not done is that he should be set free (Muslim).

Hisham ibn Hakim ibn Hizam relates that he passed by some non-Muslim peasants in Damascus who had been ordered to stand in the sun and over whose heads olive oif had been. poured. He inquired: What is this? and was told: They are being tormented for recovery of tax. On this Hisham said: I bear witness that the Holy Prophet said: Allah will chastise those who torment people in this life. Then he went to the Governor and told him this, and he ordered the men to be released (Muslim).

Ibn Abbas relates that the Holy Prophet was displeased at the sight of a donkey that had been branded on its face. Ibn Abbas said: I shall brand my donkey on the part of his body farthest from the face, and he ordered it to be branded on its hips. He was the first to do this (Muslim).

Jabir ibn Abdullah relates that the Holy Prophet passed by a donkey that had been branded on its face and said: Allah’s curse be on him who branded it (Muslim). Muslim also relates that the Holy Prophet forbade beating or branding an animal on its face.

Abu Hurairah relates: The Holy Prophet sent us on an expedition and told us: If you find So and So, and So and So of the Quraish commit them to the fire. When we were about to set out he said to us: I had ordered you to burn So and So, and So and So. But it is Allah alone who chastises with fire. So if you find them, execute them (Bokhari).

Ibn Mas‘ud relates: We were with the Holy Prophet in the course of a journey when he drew apart and in his absence we saw a red bird which had two little ones with it. We caught them and the mother bird came and started beating the earth with its wings. By that time the Holy Prophet returned and exclaimed: Who has distressed this bird on account of its young? Return them to her. He also noticed a mound of ants to which we had set fire. He inquired: Who has set fire to this? We answered: We have. He observed: It does not behove any to torment with fire except the Lord of the fire (Abu Daud).