The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A man felt very thirsty while he was on the way, there he came across a well. He went down the well, quenched his thirst and came out. Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. He said to himself, "This dog is suffering from thirst as I did." So, he went down the well again and filled his shoe with water and watered it. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him. The people said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?" He replied: "Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate (living being)." (See Hadith No. 551)
Hadith of the Thirsty Dog
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (2466) presents a profound lesson on divine mercy extending to acts of kindness toward all creation. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) recounts the story of a traveler who, after quenching his own thirst, showed compassion to a suffering dog.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars emphasize that this hadith demonstrates Allah's vast mercy, which encompasses even seemingly minor good deeds. The man's action of descending into the well a second time - despite having already satisfied his own need - shows sincere compassion without expectation of reward.
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, in his commentary Fath al-Bari, notes that Allah's "thanking" the man indicates divine acceptance and pleasure. This divine gratitude manifests as complete forgiveness of his sins, illustrating how a single act of kindness can erase numerous wrongdoings.
The scholars explain that the phrase "serving any animate" includes all living creatures possessing souls, emphasizing Islam's comprehensive mercy. This ruling extends beyond dogs to all animals, reflecting the Prophet's teaching that kindness to animals is a means of attaining Allah's forgiveness and reward.
Legal and Ethical Implications
Jurists derive from this hadith the permissibility of providing water to impure animals and the obligation to relieve suffering creatures. The Hanafi and Shafi'i schools particularly note that providing water to thirsty animals is among the recommended acts (mustahabb) that carry spiritual reward.
This narration also serves as evidence against those who might show cruelty to animals or neglect their welfare, establishing that mercy toward creation is integral to faith and a means of drawing closer to the Creator.