She asks in her question: In our days, the use of insect traps, especially for flies, has become widespread. Among these traps is an electric type used in homes and commercial establishments, and other places.

The questioner : She asks in her question: In our days, the use of insect traps, especially for flies, has become widespread. Among these traps is an electric type used in homes and commercial establishments, and other places. It consists of a blue light that attracts insects to it, surrounded by iron rods that conduct electricity, such that if insects fall on them, the electric current passing through them kills them. I have heard some people say that it is not permissible to use them because no one is to be tortured by fire except Allah alone. Does this fall under that, and what is the ruling on it? Yes.

The Shaykh : We say: It is not recommended to use these traps unless there is a pressing need for it, such as when flies become so numerous that they become a nuisance, or when mosquitoes or other harmful insects become numerous. If they become numerous, there is nothing wrong with using this device. This is not a case of torturing with fire, because the death of the insect in this trap occurs through electrocution, not through burning. The proof is that if you put a rag or a piece of paper into these strips, it does not stick or burn, but rather it is an electric shock that leads to its death. So this is not a case of torturing with fire. Then it should be known that the use of fire is not forbidden in every case; rather, it becomes forbidden when the intention is to torture, meaning that a person tortures an animal with fire. That is what is forbidden. But if the intention is to destroy a harmful creature and there is no way to destroy it except by burning, then this is not considered torturing with fire, but rather killing with fire. There is a difference between torture, which intends to cause pain, distress, and hardship to the animal, and destroying an animal by a means that can only be achieved through fire.

The questioner : To get rid of its harm.

The Shaykh : Therefore, in the story of one of the prophets, an ant stung him, so he ordered that the entire ant colony be burned. Then Allah revealed to him: meaning, why did you not burn just one ant? This is evidence that if we cannot get rid of the harm of some animal except by fire, then there is nothing wrong with it. And look, locusts are caught, roasted over fire, and eaten, as reported from the Salaf. There is no doubt that roasting them over fire is destroying them through fire. What is not roasted over fire, meaning not cooked by it, is immersed in boiling water until it is cooked and eaten. The important point is that we must know the difference between not being able to repel the harm of an insect or animal except by fire, or not being able to benefit from it except through fire, as in the case of roasting locusts and immersing them in hot water, and taking fire as a means of torturing this animal. What is forbidden is torturing the animal with fire, not reaching the goal or getting rid of it through fire, if it is not possible to achieve that except by it. Yes.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.

The questioner : This is a letter from the questioner, Abd al-Rahman 'Abadi, of Egyptian nationality, residing in the city of Buraydah.