The Holy Qur’an describes this issue by saying...

The Holy Qur’an describes this issue by saying, “In order that you may sit firm and square on their backs, and when so seated, you may celebrate the (kind) favour of your Lord, and say, ‘Glory to Him Who has subjected these to our (use), for we could never have accomplished this (by ourselves).’” Holy Qur’an (Zukhruf 43:13) In the same light, though, the Holy Qur’an describes the animal world as an independent world, which has its own system, laws, social formations and relationship between its subject, as well as its Lord, as its also has its system of relation with man, plants and the material world.

The Holy Qur’an describes this by saying, “There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you.” Holy Qur’an (An‘am 6:38) Therefore, animals are also creatures like us, which have their own special animalistic systems and of which, until now, man has been unable to discover from them but only a little knowledge.

The Holy Qur’an portrays animals as creatures who know their Lord, go toward Him and have their own prayers, tasbeeh , and prostration that correspond with their existence, although man has been unable, for the most part, to detect this. And like man, animals have their own wealth in the natural world, which is only meant for them by the Almighty Allah.

In addition, Allah, through His grace and blessings, has created animals for the service of man, where he gets food from their meat and by-products, uses their hair and waste products (for clothing and agricultural purposes) and uses them for riding, transportation and cultivation of land and also keeps them as a source of beauty, decoration and wealth for himself.

Thus, the Holy Qur’an places the animal world side by side with the human world, so as to live with this creature as a part of his environment, but he is responsible for its protection and care. This is why Islam prohibits aggression and wickedness toward animals needlessly, except at the time of need. This is because the right and superiority given to man over animals is so that he should use them with kindness and leniency.

Hence, the Islamic laws warn against harming and hurting animals or their environment, such as destroying their grazing land or killing them; with the exception of those that are harmful to man, where, when necessary, killing them will serve as a saving of one’s health and self, for instance, snakes, scorpions, etc.