Islam and cats
The cat is considered "the quintessential pet" by Muslims,[1] and is admired for its cleanliness, even going as far as being Prophet Muhammad's favourite animal.[2] Unlike other animals, such as dogs, Islamic Law considers cats pure, and allows cats to freely enter homes and even mosques. Cats are believed to be the most common pet in Muslim countries.[1]
History
The American poet and travel author
Wilfred Thesiger, in his book The Marsh Arabs, notes that cats were allowed free entry to community buildings in villages in the Mesopotamian Marshes and were even fed.[3][page needed] Aside from protecting granaries and food stores from pests, cats were valued by the paper-based Arab-Islamic cultures for preying on mice that destroyed books. For that reason, cats are often depicted in paintings alongside Islamic scholars and bibliophiles.
Hygiene and neutering
In Islamic tradition, cats are admired for their cleanliness. They are considered to be
If there are too many cats and they are a nuisance, and if the operation will not harm them, then there is nothing wrong with it, because this is better than killing them after they have been created. But if the cats are ordinary cats and are not causing a nuisance, perhaps it is better to leave them alone to reproduce.[5]
Muezza
Many Muslims believe that Muezza (or Muʿizza;
See also
- Cultural depictions of cats
- Feral cats in Istanbul
- Human interaction with cats
- Moral status of animals in the ancient world
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8160-5454-1.
- ^ ISBN 0-7407-4697-9.
In still another charming legend about the Prophet, one day his favorite cat Muezza bowed to thank him for some kind favor and, by this story, Muhammad then passed his hand down three times the length of the animal's back, giving to it—and to all cats evermore—the enviable capacity always to land squarely on their feet.
- ^ Thesiger, Wilfred (1964). The Marsh Arabs. London: Longmans.
- ISBN 0759101906.
Stories of cats who seek out persons who are praying, and of cats sensitive to the presence of grace, are common.
- ^ ISBN 1-86179-411-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-59474-163-0.
- ^ Motala, Moulana Suhail (2020-11-25). "Did Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) have a cat named Muezza?". Hadith Answers. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
- ^ "The Prophet's cat Muezza". Islamic Portal. 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2021-03-15.