Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "We have not made peace with them 1 since we fought with them, so he who leaves any of them alone through fear does not belong to us."
1. i.e. snakes.
‘Ikrima told on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas, saying he was sure that he traced it back to the Prophet, that he used to order snakes to be killed and say, "He who leaves them alone fearing that one will come to take revenge does not belong to us."
'Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu Laila. said that Abu Laila reported God’s messenger as saying, "When a snake appears in a dwelling say to it, ‘We ask you by the covenant made with Noah and the covenant made with Solomon son of David not to harm us.’ Then if it comes back, kill it."
