The Prohibition against Cruelty to a Human Being or Animal without Legitimate Reason

Do good to your parents in the best way possible, and to the relatives, orphans, the destitute, the neighbor who is near (in kinship, location, faith), the neighbor who is distant (in kinship and faith), the companion by your side (on the way, in the family, in the workplace, etc.), the wayfarer, and those who are in your service. (Treat them well and bring yourself up to this end, for) Allah does not love those who are conceited and boastful. (an-Nisa 4:36)

771. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade tying up animals so that they could be shot at and killed.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Zabaih, 25; Sahih Muslim, Sayd, 58).

775. Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I gave away (a mount) a horse in the way of Allah and the person who had it did not look after it properly. I wanted to buy it back and thought that he would sell it cheaply. I asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, ‘Do not buy it nor take back your sadaqa even if he were to give it to you for a dirham. The one who takes back his sadaqa is like the one who swallows his own vomit.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hiba, 30; Sahih Muslim, Hibat, 1).

 

Nawawi, Imam. Riyad As-Salihin; The Gardens of the Righteous: A collection of authentic hadiths. Tughra Books Press, Inc. 2014