Take care of birds and animals in summer
THE heat of the summer continues due to which humans are upset, even birds are restless, be it birds or animals. Allah made him better than all creatures and then sent him as his vicegerent on earth and instructed him to show mercy and love to other creatures created by Allah. Therefore, it is our duty to take care of this creation of Allah in this hot summer, just as we as human beings are active in finding protective measures for ourselves before the summer starts, in the same way we protect these birds and animals and take care of them.
In the same way that humans feel the need for thirst more in the heat, birds and animals also suffer from thirst due to the heat, so it is necessary that we quench our thirst in the summer season as well as the birds and animals. Also take special care of thirst and keep water in a bowl or a vessel on the roofs of your office, houses. Since the weather is very hot, the water in the morning will get hot quickly, so change the water regularly two to three times a day and take special care to clean it so that the birds or the animals around you in this hot weather.
There are many rights of birds and other animals in Islam. Their protection is part of our faith and if they are taken care of, surely many endangered species can be saved. Not only humans but other creatures of Allah like animals and birds are also urged to show mercy. The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: A man was going somewhere and he became thirsty so he went down to the well and drank water. After that, when he came out of the well, he saw a dog panting for thirst and licking the mud with great thirst. The man said to himself that this dog is also thirsty like me, so he again went down to the well and filled his sock with water and placed it in front of the dog, the dog drank the water and it revived. For this reason, Allah Almighty appreciated this servant and forgave him. The Companions our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) asked, O Messenger of Allah! Will we also be rewarded for treating animals well? So he (P.B.U.H) said: There is a reward for behaving well with every soul.
On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will do justice and even the animals will be given their due. The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: On the Day of Resurrection, the rights of those who have rights will be taken from you even a hornless goat will be replaced by a horned goat that killed it. And he (P.B.U.H) said: Any Muslim who plants crops or plants, then a human or a bird or an animal eats from it, it will be a charity for him. The person who cultivates the crop and the living being who benefits from it, even the owner of the crop, is unaware of how many and which living beings have benefited from his cultivation, but he gets the reward of charity for this act. So the person who rears animals and takes care of their food and drink, then how much his reward will be cannot be estimated. This makes it clear that Allah has shown His mercy even to speechless animals with His infinite mercy not only this but the good news of reward for good treatment of animals was also given.
Hazrat Suraqa bin Jashim (R.A) says that I asked the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H): O Messenger of Allah! I have specially made a tank for my camels. Sometimes even stray animals come on it. If I irrigate them too, will I get a reward for that too? You said: Yes! There is a reward for being kind to every thirsty soul. And it is not permissible to burden an animal more than its strength and power. The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H)strictly forbade it: If he loads more than his strength, he will have to give an account on the Day of Judgment. The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) passed by a camel and saw that its back had become swollen due to extreme hunger and thirst and excess of riding and carrying loads. Fear Allah and ride them while they are strong and ride-able and when they are not healthy, eat them.
We should take special care in this harsh season to provide awnings for birds and other animals to protect them from the heat of sun, so arrange small houses around your house for such animals. In addition to keeping water and millet in your balcony, you must also keep an umbrella. So that the birds which do not have any shelter in this hot season, can be protected from the harmful rays of the sun under the umbrella in this hot season. Intensity can be reduced and its temperature can be brought back to normal. Be sure to do the same for the animals and sprinkle water on the animals around you during the day, especially on their feet and chests. And check your vehicle well before starting and taking it out of the parking area, so that the animals, birds often sleep under the car to avoid the sun, lest your carelessness could lead to the death of an innocent person.
— The writer is contributing columnist, based in Islamabad.
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