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Hayawan (animal: food, slaughter, zakat and care)

الحيوان

Hayawan (animal) in the Quran is the life that does not end in death; technically it is a growing, sensing body that moves by will, distinguished from dabba (a creature that crawls), bahima (a beast without discernment) and ni'am (grazing livestock). 1 2 Eating is lawful for animals in general, except pigs by consensus; the majority forbid beasts with fangs and birds with talons, while a Maliki view allows every animal except humans and pigs. 2 Lawful animals must be slaughtered properly, fish and locusts need no slaughter; zakat is due on camels, cattle and sheep only; and the owner must feed and water his beasts. 2 3 Most jurists hold a rider liable for what the beast tramples with its hoof or foot but not for what it kicks with its tail or leg; a beast injured is compensated, and Umar fixed a quarter of its value for an injured eye; other rulings on animals are placed under sale, salam, pre-emption, hire, found property and hunting. 4

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Early Abbasid Caliphate
Region
Global / Diaspora
Review
Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it

Ethics and character

Summary

Hayawan (animal) in the Quran is the life that does not end in death; technically it is a growing, sensing body that moves by will, distinguished from dabba (a creature that crawls), bahima (a beast without discernment) and ni'am (grazing livestock). 1 2 Eating is lawful for animals in general, except pigs by consensus; the majority forbid beasts with fangs and birds with talons, while a Maliki view allows every animal except humans and pigs. 2 Lawful animals must be slaughtered properly, fish and locusts need no slaughter; zakat is due on camels, cattle and sheep only; and the owner must feed and water his beasts. 2 3 Most jurists hold a rider liable for what the beast tramples with its hoof or foot but not for what it kicks with its tail or leg; a beast injured is compensated, and Umar fixed a quarter of its value for an injured eye; other rulings on animals are placed under sale, salam, pre-emption, hire, found property and hunting. 4

People and things also explored

Ada' al-dayn (paying a debt: its ruling, the manner of payment, insolvency and the debts of the dead)· Ada' al-shahada (performing testimony: the duty on request, the excused witness, and the wording)· Manners of the Qur'an bearer· Biting and the liability for injury it causes (add)· Adha (harm of a slight kind: removing harmful things and the duty not to harm)· Justice and grace (adl wal-fadl)· Pardon (afw) in purity, worship, contracts and penalties· Covenant (ahd) and the duty to keep it; oath by the covenant of God

Sources

  1. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.7502
  2. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.7503
  3. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.7504
  4. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.7505
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Hayawan (animal: food, slaughter, zakat and care)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/hayawan-animal/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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Wing

Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words. Related

Ada' al-dayn (paying a debt: its ruling, the manner of payment, insolvency and the debts of the dead)

Paying a debt in the form owed is obligatory by consensus. A debt due now must be paid on demand when the debtor can pay; a deferred debt is not due before its term. Payment is made in like items, with value owed where there is no like; a better payment is allowed when unconditioned. Remission, gift, assignment, set-off and settlement take the place of payment. A solvent debtor who refuses is compelled, imprisoned and his apparent property sold; the majority hold that a bankrupt is put under interdiction and his property divided among creditors, against Abu Hanifa. The insolvent is given respite, and his debt may be paid from zakat if he borrowed for himself in a lawful matter. A dead person's debt attaches to his estate and takes precedence over bequests and inheritance.