The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed the eclipse prayer, and then said, "Hell was displayed so close that I said, 'O my Lord ! Am I going to be one of its inhabitants?"' Suddenly he saw a woman. I think he said, who was being scratched by a cat. He said, "What is wrong with her?" He was told, "She had imprisoned it (i.e. the cat) till it died of hunger."
Distribution of Water - Sahih al-Bukhari 2364
The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed the eclipse prayer, and then said, "Hell was displayed so close that I said, 'O my Lord! Am I going to be one of its inhabitants?"' Suddenly he saw a woman. I think he said, who was being scratched by a cat. He said, "What is wrong with her?" He was told, "She had imprisoned it (i.e. the cat) till it died of hunger."
Scholarly Commentary
This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari demonstrates the gravity of cruelty to animals in Islamic law. The Prophet's vision during the eclipse prayer serves as a divine warning about the consequences of mistreating Allah's creatures.
The woman's punishment in the vision—being tormented by the very creature she abused—illustrates the Islamic principle of divine justice (al-qisas), where punishment corresponds to the crime. Her sin was not merely neglecting the cat but actively imprisoning it, denying it the basic sustenance that Allah provides to all living beings.
Classical scholars emphasize that this narration establishes the prohibition of causing harm to animals through starvation, confinement, or any form of torture. The cat's right to food and freedom was violated, making this a transgression against the rights of Allah's creation.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani comments in Fath al-Bari that this hadith shows even seemingly minor acts of cruelty can lead to severe consequences in the hereafter. The Prophet's concern about entering Hell, despite his protected status, underscores the seriousness with which Muslims must treat all living beings.
Legal and Ethical Implications
This narration forms the basis for Islamic animal welfare laws, requiring proper care for domesticated animals and prohibiting their mistreatment.
Scholars derive from this that providing water and sustenance to animals is an obligation upon their caretakers, falling under the broader category of "distribution of water" and provisions to dependent creatures.
The hadith also teaches that cruelty to animals constitutes a major sin that may lead to eternal punishment, emphasizing the interconnectedness of worldly actions and hereafter consequences.