A woman asks: I went out to the courtyard of the house to change the air, so I took with me a cage containing birds, and when I entered the house, I forgot to bring them in.

The questioner : A woman asks, O honorable Shaykh, regarding this question: I went out to the courtyard of the house to change the air, so I took with me a cage containing birds. When I entered the house, I forgot to bring the birds in with me, so I left them from Maghrib until ten o'clock the next morning, and I found that they had died. Is there anything on me for this, and am I sinful?

The Shaykh : There is nothing on you for this, because you were forgetful. And Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: But I advise you, and I advise others who keep these birds, to fear Allah the Exalted in their regard and to fulfill the obligation, namely the obligation of feeding, watering, and caring for them regarding cold and heat. Because these are a trust in the hands of the person. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed that a woman was found in the Fire being punished for a cat which she had confined; she did not feed it, nor did she release it to eat from the insects of the earth. But what happens due to forgetfulness or ignorance, there is nothing on the person for it, by His saying, the Exalted:

The questioner : May Allah bless you.