The ruling on keeping birds or animals in a cage for the sake of adornment or to entertain children

The questioner:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good. Many people put sparrows in cages for the sake of adornment and to entertain children, and they also bring cats for this purpose. What is the ruling? May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh:
Or the stick in it.

The questioner:
The sparrows. Many people put sparrows in cages for the sake of adornment and to entertain children, and they also bring cats for this purpose. What is the ruling?

The Shaykh:
There is nothing wrong with keeping birds, cats, or animals for the sake of adornment, on the condition that one attends to their needs and benefits, and that one feeds and waters them. The saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): “A woman was punished, or she was punished because she confined a cat. She did not feed it, nor did she let it go to eat from the creatures of the earth.” This indicates that there is nothing wrong with keeping a cat or birds for the sake of adornment or for other benefits, but on the condition that one feeds and waters them, and does not torment them. Yes.