Why Are Cats Sunnah? Find Out Here!

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Hi, all readers! Are you looking for an explanation of "Why are cats sunnah?" If your answer is "Yes," congratulations! You are now reading the right article. Why? Because that is exactly what I will explain here. As Muslims, it is important for us to understand this topic, which is why I wrote this article. So, make sure to read it to the end!

Specifically, there are some important points about "Why are cats sunnah?" that I will explain in this article. The key points I mean are as follows:

Meaning of Sunnah in Islam

The important point about "Why are cats sunnah?" that I will explain is the meaning of sunnah in Islam. It’s crucial for you to understand this before diving into further explanations, as it is one of the foundational elements of this discussion.

"Sunnah" is an Arabic word, written as السُنَّةُ. We can find an explanation of the literal meaning of sunnah in the sentences below:

السُنَّةُ لُغَةً هِيَ الطَّرِيْقُ أَوْ الْمَسْلَكُ أَوْ الْمَنْهَجُ

In Arabic, sunnah means ath-Thariq, al-Maslak, or al-Manhaj.

We can interpret the words ath-Thariq, al-Maslak, and al-Manhaj as ways, methods, and approaches.

The meaning of sunnah in Islam is as follows:

السُنَّةُ اِصْطِلَاحًا هِيَ مَا نُسِبَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ مِنْ أَقْوَالٍ وَأَفْعَالٍ وَتَقَارِيْرَ أَوْ صِفَاتٍ خَلْقِيَّةٍ أَوْ خُلُقِيَّةٍ

In Sharia terms, sunnah refers to what is attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), including his sayings, deeds, rulings, physical traits, or moral qualities.

Another definition of sunnah in Islam 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

This means everything narrated from the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) (peace be upon him), such as his sayings, actions, approvals, physical attributes, and ethical qualities, whether before or after his prophethood.

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

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 practices in Islam will receive their reward, as well as the reward of those who follow them, without diminishing their rewards in any way. Conversely, whoever establishes a bad practice will bear their own sin and the sin of those who follow them, without reducing their burdens at all.

That is a brief explanation of the meaning of sunnah in Islam. As Muslims, it is important for us to understand this.

Hadith About Cats

The important point I will explain now regarding "Why are cats sunnah?" is the hadith about cats. I want you to understand this because it is a fundamental aspect of our discussion that must be clearly understood.

Actually, there are many hadiths about cats. Of course, I won't explain all of them here. Instead, I will focus on just two hadiths about cats. The two hadiths I refer to are 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 reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said about cats: "Indeed, they are not unclean; they are among those who roam around you." This hadith was narrated by four scholars: Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah, as well as 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 أَرْسَلَتْهَا تَأكُلُ مِنْ خَشَاشِ الْأَرْضِ حَتَّى مَاتَتْ

From Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu anhu), it was reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "A woman entered Hell because she confined a cat; she neither fed it nor allowed it to go free to eat from the insects of the earth until it died."

That's a brief explanation of the hadith about cats. As Muslims, we must understand this.

Why Are Cats Sunnah?

The important point I will explain now regarding "Why are cats sunnah?" is a specific explanation. Therefore, I sincerely hope you read the following explanation carefully.

Read Also: Is It Sunnah to Have a Cat?

Dear readers! If we understand some of the explanations above, we can conclude that cats are considered sunnah. Why? The answer is that the Prophet Muhammad encouraged Muslims to be kind to cats. One important thing to remember is that owning a cat is not an obligation for Muslims. Therefore, if someone does not have a cat, they are not committing a sin.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding "Why are cats sunnah?" is essential for Muslims, as it reflects the values of compassion and kindness emphasized in Islam. The concept of sunnah, derived from the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, highlights the importance of treating animals with care and respect. The hadiths discussed illustrate the Prophet's affection for cats and provide guidance on their treatment, reinforcing that they are not considered impure and should be cared for properly. While it is commendable to own a cat, it is important to remember that doing so is not obligatory. Ultimately, the essence of this discussion lies in fostering a loving and responsible attitude towards all creatures, promoting a sense of empathy in our interactions. I hope this article has provided clarity on the subject and encourages you to embrace the sunnah of kindness towards cats.

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to sharing more insights in the next article!