I am from the desert, and there are ants around my house that come out at night and enter my home, carrying grains like wheat and barley, and they bother me when they spread out.
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The questioner : I am from the desert, and there are ants around my house that come out at night and enter my home, carrying grains, wheat, and barley, and they bother me when they spread out. If I destroy their nests, is there any sin on me for doing so?
The Shaykh : If the ants are as the questioner described, in that they bother people and steal the grain, then there is no blame on him for doing anything to keep them away, such as destroying their nests, pouring oil around these nests, or the like of what keeps them away from him. This is because there is no blame on a person for defending himself against things that are harmful to human beings.
Rather, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the killing of animals that are by nature harmful, with a general and absolute command. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 2881Sahih (Darussalam).
But ants and similar insects, whose original nature is not to be harmful, if they do cause harm, then there is no blame on a person for doing whatever he needs to avoid that harm.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O Shaykh Muhammad. May Allah reward you and magnify [His reward].
The Shaykh : If the ants are as the questioner described, in that they bother people and steal the grain, then there is no blame on him for doing anything to keep them away, such as destroying their nests, pouring oil around these nests, or the like of what keeps them away from him. This is because there is no blame on a person for defending himself against things that are harmful to human beings.
Rather, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the killing of animals that are by nature harmful, with a general and absolute command. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
It was narrated from Aishah that the Messenger of Allah said: "There are five kinds of vermin which may be killed out and inside the Haram: Crows, kites, vicious dogs, scorpions and mice."
خمس يقتلن في الحل والحرم : الغراب، والحدأة، والعقرب، والفأرة، والكلب العقورBut ants and similar insects, whose original nature is not to be harmful, if they do cause harm, then there is no blame on a person for doing whatever he needs to avoid that harm.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O Shaykh Muhammad. May Allah reward you and magnify [His reward].