How do we reconcile the hadith ( “Two carrion animals have been made lawful for us: those from the sea and locusts” ) with the hadith ( “Do not kill locusts, for they are among the armies of Allah” )?

The questioner : What is the reconciliation between the two hadiths: and the hadith ?

The Shaykh : If it does not cause harm, it is not to be killed. There is a difference, for example, between a person sitting in the courtyard of his house who sees one or two locusts and kills them, which is not permissible, and caravans of locusts that invade cultivated lands and destroy their crops, which is harmful, so killing them is permissible. Do you understand?

The questioner : I understood.

The Shaykh : What do you have besides that? ... You say he is praying the obligatory prayer.

The questioner : And the iqamah (the second call) was made.

The Shaykh : And what is he praying?

The questioner : The obligatory prayer. And the prayer for...

The Shaykh : My brother, tell me: the obligatory prayer.