What is the ruling on raising birds?

The questioner:
Shaykh Salih, what is the ruling on birds and raising them?

The Shaykh:
There is nothing wrong with that, but on the condition that one provides them with what they need and does not neglect their food and drink. A woman entered the Fire because of a cat she had locked up; she neither fed it nor let it go out to eat from the insects of the earth. So there is nothing wrong with keeping birds, on the condition that one provides them with the food, drink, and shelter they need, and does not torment them, whether one keeps them for eating, for selling, or for adornment. There is nothing wrong with that.

The questioner:
The owners of these birds, Shaykh Salih (may Allah preserve you), say that we occupy ourselves with them and do not fall into violations and forbidden things.

The Shaykh:
No, that is not the purpose of it.

The questioner:
Rather, it is that one is entertained by them away from forbidden things. The purpose of that is what we mentioned, either that

The Shaykh:
he sells them.

The questioner:
Among them.

The Shaykh:
Yes. Or that he eats

The questioner:
from them, or that he keeps them for adornment,

The Shaykh:
for a valid purpose. Yes.