Question/Comments:
What are Islam’s/modern Islamic society’s views, if any, on cruel experiments conducted on animals for medical and cosmetic research?
In Islamic slaughter the animal is subjected to a slow and cruel death; cannot the cruelty be reduced by a quick slaughter? Why don’t the modern Islamic society prescribe certain guidelines to make the last days or hours of these animals little less painful? For example slaughtering of animals in the presence of those waiting for slaughter can be avoided;
Can you quote sayings or directives from Islamic sources supporting and respecting animals?
Regards
Answer:
Your question has three parts and we would answer them separately;
1-Firstly,Islam considers cruelty upon the weak as one of the gravest crimes. This, obviously, includes cruelty to animals and would apply to any ‘cruel’ experiments conducted upon animals.
However, the important thing in the concept of ‘cruelty’ upon animals is to decide about what exactly constitutes ‘cruelty’. One may consider experiments conducted upon animals, with the objective of deriving benefits for the human race, to fall within the folds of ‘cruelty’, while another person may consider it otherwise. Nevertheless, there would hardly be any difference of opinion in the ‘cruelty’ involved in deriving pleasure from killing another creature. As far as experiments on animals involving medical and cosmetic research are concerned, we are of the opinion that due to the basic spirit of deriving benefits for mankind, involved in such experiments, they should not be placed within the framework of ‘cruelty’. Just as we kill innumerable living bacteria, every time we wash our hands and clean our bodies; just as we use animals for food, and even as we subdue and train a horse to make use of its natural abilities we can also use them, in any other manner, for the general benefit of mankind. Such usage of animals is not prohibited by the Islamic Shari`ah.
2-Secondly, the method, which is generally adopted by Muslims for slaughtering an animal involves making an incision across its neck, which severs its main arteries. In your cited statement, you have termed it as resulting in ‘slow and cruel death’. This basic premise is questionable itself. There are acclaimed sources, which considered this method of slaughtering an animal to be less painful than any other method. For instance, the Encyclopedia Britannica writes:
Objections have sometimes been raised to this method of slaughter on the grounds of cruelty. The sight of the struggling animal aroused the concern of humane societies, and in some European countries this resulted in legislation forbidding shehitah(1). Scientific opinion indicates, however, that severance of the carotid arteries and the jugular vein by one swift movement results in almost immediate loss of consciousness, and the after-struggle is reflex muscular action.
You write:
“Why don’t the modern Islamic society prescribe certain guidelines to make the last days or hours of these animals little less painful? For example slaughtering of animals in the presence of those waiting for slaughter can be avoided”
If one is of the opinion that the animals can perceive the danger that is coming their way by watching the animals being slaughtered then it would be strongly recommended to separate the animals to be slaughtered from the animals being slaughtered. Muslims would support this suggestion.
3-Thirdly, there are innumerable narratives ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh) reporting his teachings regarding good treatment of animals. For instance, the Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have:
- condemned people whose pets die due to lack of care on the part of their owners(Bukhari)
- said: “The worst among herdsmen are those who are cruel toward their animals and who do not show mercy upon them(Ahmad ibn Hanbal)
- condemned people who tear animals to pieces(Al-Daarmiy)
- stopped people from killing tied or confined animals and birds(Bukhari)
- stopped people from killing animals for sport(Muslim)
- directed people to keep their animals clean(Ahmad ibn Hanbal)
- prompted people to provide drink for thirsty animals(Bukhari)
- prompted people to let animals and birds satisfy their hunger from their plantations(Bukhari)
- stopped people from hitting or branding animals on their faces(Abu Dawood)
Hope these answers have helped you
UIUK team
(1)-The method of slaughter prescribed by the Judaic law, which is quite similar to the one adopted by the Muslims.
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