Is it permissible to kill white ants if they harm the residents of a house, for example?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : We have small ants in the house and they are bothering us. What is your opinion on them?
The Shaykh : Yes, I say: Ants and other insects, if they cause harm and that harm cannot be repelled except by killing them, then let them be killed. But if they do not cause any harm—neither damaging the building, nor spoiling food, nor disturbing the sleep of the children or the person—then let them be left alone. However, if they cause harm and it cannot be repelled except by killing them, then it is permissible for him to do so. Yes.
The questioner : ...with sleep, meaning they sting us a little.
The Shaykh : Yes, the reality is that it is mostly the case that they cause harm.
The questioner : Heard.
The Shaykh : It is mostly the case that they cause harm, without a doubt. So if the harm cannot be repelled except by killing them, kill them, and there is no blame on you.
The questioner : So we finish them off with the fly killer?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : With the fly killer, there is no conflict.
The Shaykh : With the fli...
The questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
The Shaykh : Yes, I say: Ants and other insects, if they cause harm and that harm cannot be repelled except by killing them, then let them be killed. But if they do not cause any harm—neither damaging the building, nor spoiling food, nor disturbing the sleep of the children or the person—then let them be left alone. However, if they cause harm and it cannot be repelled except by killing them, then it is permissible for him to do so. Yes.
The questioner : ...with sleep, meaning they sting us a little.
The Shaykh : Yes, the reality is that it is mostly the case that they cause harm.
The questioner : Heard.
The Shaykh : It is mostly the case that they cause harm, without a doubt. So if the harm cannot be repelled except by killing them, kill them, and there is no blame on you.
The questioner : So we finish them off with the fly killer?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : With the fly killer, there is no conflict.
The Shaykh : With the fli...
The questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.