Fatwa ID: 05444

Answered by: Alimah Sofia Mirza

Question:

Can we keep reptiles that are not vicious as pets?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Keeping any harmful pets which may cause harm to someone such as snakes, scorpions, lizards e.c.t is not permissible as the Prophet ordered such harmful animals to be killed as mentioned in the Hadith “The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Kill the snake with two white lines on its back, for it blinds the on-looker and causes abortion.”[1]

All other reptiles which do not cause harm or are poisonous are permissible to keep as pets.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Sofia Mirza

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Sahih Bukhari, Maktabah Qadeemi Kutub Khaanah , Hadith 3308,

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ اقْتُلُوا ذَا الطُّفْيَتَيْنِ، فَإِنَّهُ يَلْتَمِسُ الْبَصَرَ، وَيُصِيبُ الْحَبَلَ ‏”‏‏.‏