The Prophet Muhammad not only preached to the people to show kindness to each other but also to all the living creatures.
The Arabs before Islam had some customs regarding the animals like cutting tails and manes of horses, of branding animals at any soft spot, and of keeping horses saddled unnecessarily. The Prophet Muhammad forbade such customary performances.
When The Prophet Muhammad saw any over-loaded animal, he would pull up the owner and say: "Fear Allah in your treatment of animals."
One of Muhammad's companions came to him with the young ones of a bird in his sheet and said that the mother bird had hovered over them all along. The Prophet Muhammad commanded the man to replace her offspring in the same bush.
During a journey, somebody picked up some birds eggs. The bird's painful note and fluttering attracted the attention of the Prophet Muhammad who asked the man to replace the eggs.
As the Muslims' army marched towards Mecca to conquer it, they passed a female dog with her little puppies. The Prophet Muhammad not only commanded that the soldiers should not disturb her, but he posted a man to see that this was done.
The Prophet Muhammad also used to command mercy for all animals such that they are well-fed, well-watered, not forced to carry too heavy a burden, and not tortured or maimed for one's enjoyment. Muhammad stated, "Verily, there is heavenly reward for every act of kindness done to a living animal."
Three narrated Hadiths concerning the animals
In His teachings, it is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad said,
(1) 'While a man was walking on a road he became very thirsty. He found a well, he went into it, drank, and came out. Upon coming out of the well he found a very thirsty dog that was breathing hard and quickly. The man said: 'This dog has become stricken with the same degree of thirst which had stricken me.' The man went down into the well and filled his shoe and then held it in his mouth until he climbed out and gave the dog water to drink. Allah thanked the man for his good deed and forgave his sins.' Upon listening to this story, One of Muhammad's companions asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, are we rewarded for taking care of beasts?' Muhammad said, 'There is a reward for you in every living creature.
(2) 'A woman was punished because of a cat. She neither provided it with food nor drink, nor set it free so that it might eat and drink'.
(3) [The Prophet Muhammad passed by a very weak camel that his stomach quite touched its back (due to the lack of food). Upon seeing this he said:] "Fear Allah in these unspeaking animals! Ride them while they are in good health."
