Animal Conditions in Islamic Jurisdiction

The title of this thesis is "Animal Conditions in Islamic Jurisdiction". Presented by student "Ammar Kamal Moh. Manna'a", and supervised by his excellence Dr. Jamal Al- kilani, Assistant Professor at An- Najah Nat'l University The thesis is a complementary requirement for M.A. Degree in the Department of Fiqh and Jurisdiction — Higher studies Collage — An- Najah Nat'l University —Nablus — Palestine, 1420 H. —2000 A. C. This research contains; Preface and three chapters. In the preface I explained and defined animal and showed its position among other creatures, i.e., its position among plants and human beings. I explained its initial creation and the area it occupies in the Globe, in addition to its kind and body. An explanation of animal and God commands, where animal has not been qualified for that. However, its very existence is to help man to fulfill his duty as a vicegerent to God on the land. I concluded the preface section by mentioning different aspects of the attention paid for animals in the Holy Qura'an, and how this sacred book instructed men to take care of them. The first chapter discusses how man can make use of animals and the different ways of doing that i.e., the lawful and unlawful of animals meat. I mentioned the Islamic conditions of making use of animals stool "waste" by selling it or using it as natural fertilizer. I also mentioned the usage of animal’s skin and salena. Because some animals were used as means of war, Islam assigned a part of the spoils for these animals. Therefore, man benefits of animals share in "Jihad". Different ways of instructing animals, teaching them, racing, photographing and taking them as features of beauty have been discussed thoroughly in the thesis. Enmity against animals by beating or killing was discussed. I showed kinds of animals man was forbidden to kill and in what cases it is permissible to kill. I also showed the conditions of causing harm to animals by "Wasm" or "making signs on thebody of the animals" and by "Sabr" or "the catchment of animals to be killed by shooting on it" and by cursing. Using animals for lab tests invoked the discussion of the Islamic opinion on this issue. In the third and final chapter, the thesis discusses ways of taking care of animals through different means of behavior when riding animals or milking them or even slaughtering them. In addition, the thesis discusses Islamic rules of feeding animals, sheltering them and their expenses. I discussed the rules of making "Wasiya" or earmarking a sum of money or property for the expenses of animals and animal societies; and whether this is feasible and lawful in our religion or not. I didn't forget to tackle the issue of cloning in animals, which is an up-to-date scientific issue. Finally, the conclusion where I disclosed the outstanding results of this research. As a concluding remark, I can say that Islam has given much significance to animals as God- created beings, Allah, the Almighty, has given them souls, and endorsed different conditions which arrange and control the relationship between man and animal. Islam made it lawful to benefit from animals according to Allah's Jurisdiction. It forbids any kind of transgression against animals. To the contrary, Islam called upon its followers to pay attention, take care and supervise in a polite manner the lives of animals.