Permissibility of Killing a Owned Animal Due to Illness or the Like
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Some animals owned by a person may suffer from illnesses, accidents, or old age, whether they are edible or not. If they are in severe pain or have a disease that poses a risk of contagion, should they be killed or left alone?
If a person has an animal for which he is responsible because it is in his ownership or in his possession, and this animal is afflicted with an illness that prevents its use, there is no harm in killing it. In this case, it becomes a burden on him, and he would be obligated to spend on it, which would be a waste of money since he derives no benefit from it.
So, based on this, we say: There is no harm in killing this animal if it is ill and of no use to you, or if there is a fear of harmful contagion to other animals, provided that it is under your responsibility.
As for an animal that is outside your responsibility, such as a donkey, dog, or beast in the wilderness over which you have no authority, leave it alone until Allah decrees for it what is to be done.
The questioner: And what if it is one of the official authorities?The Shaykh: The official authority responsible for the care of animals is responsible in the same way as the one who directly owns them.
The questioner: And what about one that was killed in an accident?The Shaykh: Yes.
If a person has an animal for which he is responsible because it is in his ownership or in his possession, and this animal is afflicted with an illness that prevents its use, there is no harm in killing it. In this case, it becomes a burden on him, and he would be obligated to spend on it, which would be a waste of money since he derives no benefit from it.
So, based on this, we say: There is no harm in killing this animal if it is ill and of no use to you, or if there is a fear of harmful contagion to other animals, provided that it is under your responsibility.
As for an animal that is outside your responsibility, such as a donkey, dog, or beast in the wilderness over which you have no authority, leave it alone until Allah decrees for it what is to be done.
The questioner: And what if it is one of the official authorities?The Shaykh: The official authority responsible for the care of animals is responsible in the same way as the one who directly owns them.
The questioner: And what about one that was killed in an accident?The Shaykh: Yes.