Ruling on Killing Birds to Repel Their Harm
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The question revolves around a person who sowed seeds and watered them, and birds came to eat them. Should he strike the birds and leave the seeds?
It is permissible to kill birds to repel their harm. Any creature that causes harm and cannot be repelled except by killing it may be killed, whether it is birds or otherwise. Even a human being, if he becomes a threat to another human being by trying to kill him, take his wealth, or violate his honor, and this cannot be repelled except by killing him, then it is permissible to kill him.
If someone were to say: What is the evidence regarding the human being?The evidence: It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that a man asked him and said: “O Messenger of Allah! What do you think if a man comes seeking my wealth?”He said: Do not give him your wealth.He said: What do you think if he fights me?He said: Fight him.He said: O Messenger of Allah! What do you think if I kill him?He said: He is in the Fire.He said: O Messenger of Allah! What do you think if he kills me?He said: Then you are a martyr. But with the condition: that it cannot be repelled except by killing him. If it can be repelled without killing him, then it is not permissible for you to kill him.Meaning: If you are active and strong—stronger than he is—and you are able to seize him, capture him, and save yourself from his evil, it is not permissible for you to kill him, because the harm is repelled by the easiest means first.
It is permissible to kill birds to repel their harm. Any creature that causes harm and cannot be repelled except by killing it may be killed, whether it is birds or otherwise. Even a human being, if he becomes a threat to another human being by trying to kill him, take his wealth, or violate his honor, and this cannot be repelled except by killing him, then it is permissible to kill him.
If someone were to say: What is the evidence regarding the human being?The evidence: It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that a man asked him and said: “O Messenger of Allah! What do you think if a man comes seeking my wealth?”He said: Do not give him your wealth.He said: What do you think if he fights me?He said: Fight him.He said: O Messenger of Allah! What do you think if I kill him?He said: He is in the Fire.He said: O Messenger of Allah! What do you think if he kills me?He said: Then you are a martyr. But with the condition: that it cannot be repelled except by killing him. If it can be repelled without killing him, then it is not permissible for you to kill him.Meaning: If you are active and strong—stronger than he is—and you are able to seize him, capture him, and save yourself from his evil, it is not permissible for you to kill him, because the harm is repelled by the easiest means first.