Animals cannot be described as Muslims or non-Muslims

9-1-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

Are there Muslim and non-Muslim animals and birds or will they not be held accountable?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Animals cannot be described as Muslim or non-Muslim for they have no mental abilities and are not competent for religious assignment, thus, they cannot be held accountable. However, we can say that they are submissive to Allaah The Almighty, and that they prostrate to Him and glorify Him like other creatures. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

·        {And to Allaah prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth of creatures.} [Quran 16:49]

·        {Do you not see that to Allaah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of the people?} [Quran 22:18]

·        {The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allaah] by His praise.} [Quran 17:44]

Moreover, it was proven in Sharee‘ah that the animals will settle the scores between them and then it will be said to them: “Be dust.”

Allaah Knows best.