Explanation of the hadith of 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: (A woman was punished for a cat. She confined it until it died of hunger).

The Shaykh : And from this, it also becomes clear the importance of the opposite of that, and that a Muslim does not fall into the opposite of that, which is the antithesis of mercy, namely to torment an animal, for example. This torment does not come from a person except because mercy has been extracted from his heart. Therefore, it is good of the author to follow the previous hadith with a hadith containing another story that contradicts the first story. He narrates with his authentic chain, from 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ; meaning she entered the Fire because of her tormenting of this cat. What is this torment? She did not take it and start tying it, tearing it, or slaughtering it. No, the whole matter is that she tied it in a place where there was no food or drink in that place. Even if there had been food or drink, it was far from it, and she did not reach it because of the tie she put on it. So this treatment and this lack of mercy caused her to enter the Fire, and she entered the Fire. It is said here in the hadith, and Allah knows best, that it is said to this woman while she is in the Fire: , meaning it would have been sufficient for you if you had not tied her, but rather released her, and she would have remained "taking care of her own affairs," as it is said, "she did not protect herself from the creatures of the earth." What are the creatures of the earth? The insects of the earth, meaning the mouse, the locust, and the like. So the cat takes care of its own affairs, and our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) created it with that disposition. But to tie her and confine her, she does not bring it to her herself, nor does she let her hunt and live by herself. Therefore, this woman entered the Fire for a cat.