Fatwa ID: 05219

Answered by: Mufti Imran Mughal

Question

I have seen in many households that people kill rats either by poison or from hot water. So is it permissible to kill rats? If not, what are the other ways of getting your house rid of rats permanently?

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

Answer

It is permissible to kill rats and other pests within the house; however, it must be done in a way where it causes the least harm to the animals.[1]

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Mufti Imran Mughal

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Al-Mawsoo’ah Al-Fiqhiyyah (Kuwait, 1995), 32:5.