17th December 2014
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question: What is it meant by castration of cats and what is the Islamic ruling? Vets generally recommend owners to have their pet cats castrated for the cat’s safety and so to make taming of the cat manageable. I would appreciate if you could enlighten me on this issue according to the Islamic principles whether in Islām it is allowed or not.
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
Before discussing the Islamic view point, it is first necessary to understand how and why cats are castrated in the first place. Castration or neutering of cats (or any other animal) is a surgical operation of removing the testicles of the male cat and removal of the ovaries of a female cat. Other names associated to this surgical procedure is fixing or altering a male/female cat. This process is done under anaesthetic treatment, allowing the cat to feel less pain as possible. Veterinarians (vet doctors) recommend this as an effective means of altering the behaviour of tomcats. Those behavioural characteristics that are reduced or even eliminated because of castration are as follows; [1]
1: Sexual Behaviour – Cats seek out female cats for mating during the heat. According to experts a male cat through mating can allow a female cat to have up to three litters a year; each litter producing batch of 4-5 kittens which can become overwhelmingly burdensome for the owner. The effect of castration reduces the hormone testosterone, the masculinity behaviour in a cat. By castration, it becomes less inclined towards mating but if so, then only on one odd occasion. It cannot fertilise a female cat. Another purpose it serves is control of population, otherwise unwanted kittens may not be cared for, thus prone to developing infectious illnesses.
2: Roaming – Cats tend to roam out far away from its owner’s home at times which increases the dangers of accidents and risk of encountering other cats in a fight. Female cats roam freely seeking out male cats to mate with them. The effect of castration of male and female cats prevents roaming far away and stay closer to home, thus reducing the chances of encountering any danger or road side accidents.
3: Fighting – Cats are territorial and spray urine to mark and protect their territories. The urine often emits a strong odour smell, signalling to other cats of their marked territories. More than one cat living in one house spray their territories in the house. If one cat trespasses into another cat’s territory then they break out into a fight. Fights can also break out between male cats over mating with female cats. Cat fight can become injurious causing severe wounds to the body eventually leading to abscesses that can become life threatening if not treated and spread of FIV infection. Castration of cats causes reduction of fighting which lessens the chances of developing abscesses, severe injuries and spread of FIV infection.
Islamic Ruling on Castration of Cats
Islām is a comprehensive religion which makes it not only limited to human related affairs but also includes injunctions pertaining to animal-welfare. Amongst the objectives of the divine Shari’ah is pivoted on procuring benefit and/or repelling harm.[2]
The closest similitude ruling can be taken from castration of sacrificial animals during the era of the Messenger of Allāh sallallahu alayhi wasallam. It is reported from Sayyidunā Jābir ibn Abdullāh radhiyallahu anhu that the Messenger of Allāh sallallahu alayhi wasallam on the day of Qurbāni sacrificed two rams that were castrated.[3] The scholars explain that a castrated ram or sheep enhances the growth of the flesh in the animal (which serves as a source of benefit for humans).[4] Had it been form of mutilation or harmful for the animal then he would have surely forbidden it. On this principle, the Hanafi Fuqahā have allowed castration of cats especially if it is known to avert harmful traits such as aggressive behaviour and cat fighting which cats are likely to encounter if not castrated.[5]
[Allãh Knows Best]
Written by (Mufti) Abdul Waheed
Answer Attested by Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Further information can be obtained from the following links; http://www.wardendcatrescue.org.uk/7.html
http://www.bva.co.uk/News-campaigns-and-policy/Policy/Companion-animals/Neutering/
http://www.icatcare.org:8080/advice/keeping-your-cat-healthy/neutering-your-cat
http://www.petcarepractice.com/Neuterings/Cats.html
[2] Al-Ghazāli, Al-Mustasfa, Aslur Rābi minal Usoolil Mawhoomatil Istislāh p.275
أَمَّا الْمَصْلَحَةُ فَهِيَ عِبَارَةٌ فِي الْأَصْلِ عَنْ جَلْبِ مَنْفَعَةٍ أَوْ دَفْعِ مَضَرَّةٍ، وَلَسْنَا نَعْنِي بِهِ ذَلِكَ، فَإِنَّ جَلْبَ الْمَنْفَعَةِ وَدَفْعَ الْمَضَرَّةِ مَقَاصِدُ الْخَلْقِ وَصَلَاحُ الْخَلْقِ فِي تَحْصِيلِ مَقَاصِدِهِمْ، لَكِنَّا نَعْنِي بِالْمَصْلَحَةِ الْمُحَافَظَةَ عَلَى مَقْصُودِ الشَّرْعِ
[3] Sunnan Abu Dāwood, Bāb ma Yustahabu mina Dahāya, No:2795
جَابِرٍ – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ – قَالَ: «ذَبَحَ النَّبِيُّ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – يَوْمَ الذَّبْحِ كَبْشَيْنِ أَقْرَنَيْنِ، أَمْلَحَيْنِ، مَوْجُوءَيْنِ
[4] Mirqāt, Vol 3 p.308
الْوِجَاءُ أَنْ تُرَضَّ أَيْ: تُدَقَّ أُنْثَيَا الْفَحْلِ رَضًّا شَدِيدًا يُذْهِبُ شَهْوَةَ الْجِمَاعِ، وَقِيلَ: هُوَ أَنْ يُوجَأَ الْعُرُوقُ وَالْخُصْيَتَانِ بِحَالِهِمَا، وَفِي الْقَامُوسِ: وَوُجِيَ هُوَ بِالضَّمِّ فَهُوَ مَوْجُوءٌ وَوَجِئٌ: دُقَّ عُرُوقُ خُصْيَتَيْهِ بَيْنَ حَجَرَيْنِ، وَلَمْ يُخْرِجْهُمَا، أَوْ هُوَ رُضَاضُهُمَا حَتَّى يَنْفَضِخَا أَيْ: يَنْكَسِرَا. فِي شَرْحِ السُّنَّةِ: كَرِهَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ الْمَوْجُوءَةَ لِنُقْصَانِ الْعُضْوِ، وَالْأَصَحُّ أَنَّهُ غَيْرُ مَكْرُوهٍ ; لِأَنَّ الْخِصَاءَ يَزِيدُ اللَّحْمَ طِيبًا
[5] Ibn Abideen Ash-Shami, Kitābul Hadhr wal Ibahat, Bābul Istibrā wa ghairihi, Vol 9 p.557
وَ) جَازَ (خِصَاءُ الْبَهَائِمِ) حَتَّى الْهِرَّةِ
وْلُهُ وَجَازَ خِصَاءُ الْبَهَائِمِ) عَبَّرَ فِي الْهِدَايَةِ بِالْإِخْصَاءِ، وَالصَّوَابُ مَا هُنَا كَمَا فِي النِّهَايَةِ وَهُوَ نَزْعُ الْخُصْيَةِ، وَيُقَالُ: خَصِيٌّ وَمَخْصِيٌّ ……….(قَوْلُهُ وَقَيَّدُوهُ) أَيْ جَوَازُ خِصَاءِ الْبَهَائِمِ بِالْمَنْفَعَةِ وَهِيَ إرَادَةُ سِمَنِهَا أَوْ مَنْعُهَا عَنْ الْعَضِّ.
Fatāwa Hindiyyah, Kitābul Karāhiyyah, Bābul Khatan wal Khasā, Vol 5 p.437
وَأَمَّا فِي غَيْرِهِ مِنْ الْبَهَائِمِ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ إذَا كَانَ فِيهِ مَنْفَعَةٌ وَإِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ مَنْفَعَةٌ أَوْ دَفْعُ ضَرَرٍ فَهُوَ حَرَامٌ كَذَا فِي الذَّخِيرَةِ.خِصَاءُ السِّنَّوْرِ إذَا كَانَ فِيهِ نَفْعٌ أَوْ دَفْعُ ضَرَرٍ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ كَذَا فِي الْكُبْرَى