Is It Sunnah to Have a Cat? Find Out Here!

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Hi, dear readers! Are you looking for an explanation about "Is it sunnah to have a cat?"? If your answer is "Yes," congratulations! You are reading the right article. Why? Because in this article, I will explain exactly that. As Muslims, it’s important for us to understand this topic. That’s why I wrote this article, so be sure to read it to the end.

In particular, there are several key points about "Is it sunnah to have a cat?" that I will explain here. These important points are as follows:

The Meaning of Sunnah to Have a Cat

The main point I will address about "Is it sunnah to have a cat?" is the meaning of the phrase "It is sunnah to have a cat." I want you to understand this so that you gain a full understanding of the topic at hand.

If we analyze the phrase "It is sunnah to have a cat," we will see there are two key points we need to clarify. These points are as follows:

Sunnah

By the way, do you know what sunnah is? If you’re unfamiliar with the term, remember that sunnah refers to everything attributed to Prophet Muhammad. This is the general explanation of sunnah.

The specific meaning of sunnah is as follows:

كُلُّ مَا نُقِلَ عَنْ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ - صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - مِنْ أَقْوَالٍ وَأَفْعَالٍ وَتَقْرِيْرٍ، وَصِفَاتٍ خَلْقِيَّةٍ وَخُلُقِيَّةٍ، سَوَاءً أَكَانَ ذَلِكَ قَبْلَ الْبِعْثَةِ أَمْ بَعْدَهَا

Everything that is narrated from the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad), sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, such as sayings, deeds, approvals, and both physical and moral characteristics, whether before or after he was sent as a Prophet and Messenger.

This is one of the definitions of sunnah according to hadith scholars.

You can find an explanation of sunnah in the following hadith:

مَنْ سَنَّ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ سُنَّةً حَسَنَةً فَلَهُ أَجْرُهَا وَأَجْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا بَعْدَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْءٌ وَمَنْ سَنَّ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ سُنَّةً سَيِّئَةً كَانَ عَلَيْهِ وِزْرُهَا وَوِزْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أَوْزَارِهِمْ شَيْءٌ

"Whoever sets an example of good practice in Islam will receive its reward and the reward of those who follow it, without their rewards being diminished in the slightest. But whoever sets a bad example will bear its burden and the burden of those who follow it, without their burdens being lessened in the slightest."

Have a Cat

What is meant by "Having a cat" is quite simple: it refers to someone owning a cat.

So, we can understand the phrase "Sunnah to have a cat" in the following ways:

1. The Prophet Muhammad either owned cats or instructed Muslims to treat them kindly.
2. Having a cat is considered a good act in Islam.

In general, when someone speaks of the "Sunnah to have a cat," they mean that the Prophet Muhammad had a cat or instructed Muslims to be kind to them, which is viewed positively in Islam. However, if someone asks about the "sunnah to have a cat," they are likely asking whether it is permissible in Islam to keep a cat.

Read Also: Why Are Cats Sunnah?

That is a brief explanation of the meaning of "Sunnah to have a cat" that we should understand.

Hadith About Cats

An important point regarding "Is it sunnah to have a cat?" that I will explain here is the hadith about cats. I want you to understand this so you can grasp the fundamental argument behind this question.

The hadith about cats is as follows:

عَنْ أَبِيْ قَتَادَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : فِيْ الْهِرَّةِ : إِنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ بِنَجَسٍ ، إِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنَ الطَّوَافِيْنَ عَلَيْكُمْ . أَخْرَجَهُ الْأَرْبَعَةُ وَ إِبْنُ خُزَيْمَةَ

From Abu Qatadah radiyallahu anhu, he (Prophet Muhammad) said regarding cats, "Indeed, they are not unclean. They are among those who frequently intermingle with you." This hadith was narrated by four (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah) and Ibn Khuzaimah.

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : … دَخَلَتِ امْرَأَةٌ النَّارَ فِيْ هِرَّةٍ ربَطَتْهَا فَلَا هِيَ أَطْعَمَتْهَا وَلَا هِيَ أَرْسَلَتْها تَأكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الْأَرْضِ حَتَّى مَاتَتْ

From Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu, that the Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "...a woman entered Hell because she tied up a cat and neither fed it nor let it go to eat the small creatures on the ground until it died."

These are hadiths about cats that we must understand.

Is it Sunnah to Have a Cat?

The important point about "Is it sunnah to have a cat?" that I’m going to explain here is a specific answer. In other words, does Islam permit Muslims to have cats?

Dear readers! Based on the explanations above, we can conclude that having a cat is considered a sunnah. Why? Because the Prophet Muhammad instructed Muslims to be kind to cats. One important thing to remember is that having a cat is not an obligation for Muslims. So, if they don’t own a cat, they are not committing a sin.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the question "Is it sunnah to have a cat?" can be answered by reflecting on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. While having a cat is not obligatory, it is considered a sunnah due to the Prophet's emphasis on kindness toward animals, especially cats. Various hadiths highlight how Islam encourages Muslims to care for and treat animals with compassion. Although owning a cat is a praiseworthy act, it is not a requirement, and those who choose not to have a cat are not sinful. Ultimately, the treatment of animals, particularly cats, reflects Islamic values of mercy and responsibility. I hope this explanation has clarified the matter, and that it serves as a useful guide for understanding the Islamic perspective on having cats. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.

May this be beneficial, and I look forward to seeing you in the next article. Ameen.