The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A woman entered the (Hell) Fire because of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth. "
Beginning of Creation - Sahih al-Bukhari 3318
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A woman entered the (Hell) Fire because of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth."
Commentary on the Hadith
This profound narration demonstrates the immense weight Allah places upon the rights of creatures in His divine scale of justice. The woman's punishment stems not from major disbelief but from her cruel neglect of a dependent animal entrusted to her care.
Scholars explain that the cat was completely under her control - tied and restricted - making her fully responsible for its sustenance. By neither feeding it nor allowing it to seek Allah's provision from earth's insects, she violated the trust (amanah) placed upon her.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes this hadith establishes that causing harm to animals can lead to severe punishment, while kindness to them can bring divine reward. The prohibition here extends beyond cats to all creatures under human guardianship.
This teaching reflects Islam's comprehensive mercy - extending even to animals - and warns against the grave sin of neglecting those under our protection, whether human or animal.