'Abdullah ibn al-'As reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, said, "Show mercy and you will be shown mercy.
Forgive and Allah will forgive you. Woe to the vessels that catch words
(i.e. the ears). Woe to those who persist and consciously continue in what
they are doing."
Narrated 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, said, "A woman punished her cat by imprisoning
it until it died of hunger and because of it, she entered the Fire. It
was said - and Allah knows best:
'You did not feed it nor give it water
when you imprisoned it nor did you release it and let it eat from the plants
of the earth."
Abu Umama that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, said, "Anyone who shows mercy, even to an animal meant
for slaughtering, will be shown mercy by Allah on the Day of Rising."
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, said, "One day a man became very thirsty while
walking down the road. He came across a well, went down into it, and drank
and then climbed out. In front of him he found a dog panting, eating the
dust out of thirst. The man said, 'This dog is as thirsty as I was.' He
went back down into the well and filled his shoe, putting it into his mouth
(in order to climb back up) and then gave the dog water. Therefore Allah
thanked him and forgave him." They said, "Messenger of Allah, will we have
a reward on account of animals?" He said, "There is a reward on account
of every living thing."
