[Q 332] Feeding Carrion to Cats or Dogs

Question

Can cats or dogs be fed dead meat?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

No, it is not permissible to feed carrion (meat of a dead animal) to cats or dogs because it involves benefiting from a carcass, whereas Allah has declared carcasses as absolutely Haram, and this prohibition is intrinsic to it. Therefore, benefiting from it in any way is not allowed.

However, if there is carrion lying around somewhere, then there’s nothing wrong with leaving the cat to eat of its own accord. This action is exclusive to the cat.

In Sharh Ma’ani al-Athar, it is narrated by Jabir رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

لا تنتفعوا من الميتة بشي

“Do not derive any benefit from the carcass.”

(Sharh Ma’ani al-Athar, Vol. 1, Pg. 473, Beirut)

In Fatawa Hindiyyah, it is stated:

“قال أصحابنا: لا يجوز الانتفاع بالميتة على أي وجه، ولا يطعمها الكلاب والجوارح”

(Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah, Vol. 5, Pg. 344, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut)

In Tabyin al-Haqaiq wa Hashiyat al-Shalabiyy, it is mentioned:

“وكذلك الميتة لا يجوز أن يطعمها كلابه؛ لأنّ في ذلك انتفاعًا والله تعالى حرم ذلك تحريمًا مطلقًا معلقًا بأعيانها”

(Tabyin al-Haqaiq wa Hashiyat al-Shalabiyy, Vol. 6, Pg. 49, Cairo)

In Muhit Burhaniyy, it is stated:

“لا يحمل ‌الجيفة ‌إلى ‌الهرة ويحمل الهرة إلى الجيفة”

(Muhit Burhaniyy, Vol. 5, Pg. 362, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut)

Answered by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated answer

Date: 16th July 2024