Sex with Animals and Islam Part 1/3

Table of Content
Quran
Hadith
Consensus/Ijma
Conclusion

Quran:

Quran doesn’t mention a specific word for “Bestiality”. It doesn’t mean it is allowed or it is not a sin. There are many things that Quran didn’t mention directly but yet the rules of the Quran apply to them.

Homosexuality, Bestiality, and Masturbation are forbidden according to the following verses of the Quran:

Text:

  And they who guard their private parts

  Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed

 But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors

Reference: Chapter 23: AL-MU’MINUN >> Verses 5-7 SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
Online Source Archive Link
Chapter 70: Al-Ma’arij >> Verses 29-31
Online Source Archive Link

Explanation:

• The Phrase “guard private parts”  means abstain from unlawful sexual intercourse wherever this phrase is mentioned in Quran.
• The phrase “right hand possesses” is used for “Slaves” in general (Read Quran: 30:28 4:36 4:3 24:58 24:33 and specifically used for “female slaves”( Read Quran: 16:71 33:55 33:50 4:3 4:24 4:25 24:31 33:52) when talking about carnal relations in Quran. Many translators have directly translated “right hand possesses” as “female slaves”. See http://www.islamawakened.com/quran/23/6/default.htm

Tafsir of 23:5-7:

Tafsir Maariful quran by Mufti Shafi.
Online Source Archive Link

Tafsir Al Jalalayn:

But whoever seeks anything beyond that intercourse with wives and concubines such as masturbation those they are transgressors who have overstepped the bounds into what is not lawful for them.

Online Link Archive Link

Abu Ala Maududi

The sentence “…. but those who go beyond this (in lust for sexual desire), shall be transgressors” has made satisfaction of sex desire in other ways unlawful, whether it be through fornication, homosexuality, sex gratification with animals, or some other means.

Tafhim al-Qur’an Online Link Archive Link

Ahadith:

There are few traditions that are reported from the Prophet about “Bestiality”. I will write them one by one on the basis of the topic.

Curse on those who commit bestiality:

In these traditions, the Prophet cursed those who commits bestiality. There are two Companions from which Such hadiths are reported.

Narrator: Ibn Abbas

The Prophet said:”۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ cursed be the one who commits bestiality, cursed be the one who does the deed of the people of Loot. 

Musnad Ahmed (2913-2915🔗 , 1875 🔗 )

Grade:

Darrussalam: Hasan(links are above)
Albani: Sahih 🔗 Archive 🔗

A similar tradition is also reported from Abu Huraira but it is classified as weak 2

The tradition about Death Penalty for those who commit Bestiality:

Text:

Narrator: Ibn Abbas

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“…… whoever has intercourse with an animal, kill him, and kill the animal.” 4

Ibn Majah(2564) Archive
Musnad Ahmed(2420🔗)

Grade : Sahih (Darussalam)
Sahih(Albani)

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone has sexual intercourse with an animal, kill him and kill it along with him.

Abu Dawud (4464) Archive

Grade :

Not Strong tradition ( Abu Dawood in his Sunan)

Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani)

Hasan (Darussalam)

Consensus/Ijma:

Ijma is the 3rd fundamental source of Sunni Islamic laws after Quran and Sunnah. There is a consensus among all Muslim jurists that Bestiality is a forbidden act as mentioned by Ibn Hazm and Ibn Qattan in their compilation of the Ijma compendiums

وَاتَّفَقُوا أَن اتيان الْبَهَائِم حرَام

Translation: There is consensus(Ijma) that intercourse with animals is Haram

Maratib Al Ijma by Ibn Hazm>> Kitab ul Hudud>> Page: 126 🔗 Archive 🔗
Masail e Ijma by Ibn Qattan>> Kitabul Ul Hudud>> Page: 597 🔗 Archive 🔗 (3663)

Similarly, the renowned Juripendence book of 20th century Fiqh Us Sunnah also states similar to it.

أجمع العلماء على تحريم إتيان البهيمة

Translation: All scholars have consensus on prohibition of bestiality

Fiqh us Sunnah by Sayyid Sabiq>> Volume:2 >> Chapter: Al Hudud >> Page 436 🔗 Archive 🔗

As for Punishment, there has been disagreement among scholars on what should be the legal punishment for the crime. I have written a separate article on that. So check this out: Islam and bestiality Part: 2

Conclusion:

Quran and Hadith traditions prohibit bestiality and scholars have unanimously agreed that Bestiality is among the major sins.

Notes:

1. 
   Jami Tirmidhi Vol. 3, Book 15, in the commentary of Hadith 1456(not translated in English)
   Link: https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/17/40
   Sahih Ibn Hibban http://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-1729/page-6611
   Musannaf Abdur Razzaq http://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-13174/page-14640
   
   Ahmed Shakir: Sahih Isnad (http://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-98139/page-994)
   Shu’ayb Arna’ut: Hasan (http://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-25794/page-1373)
   References: Ahmad(1875, 2915, 2916 & 2917), Tirmidhi(1456), Ibn Hibban (4417), Abdur Razzaq(13494 & 13495), Mustadrak(8052), Dhamm Al Malahi(156),Kubra Al Nasa’i(7297), Kubra al bayhaqi(17017,17018), Al Kabir Tabrani(11546) 1
2. Mustadrak Al Hakim> Book of Prescribed Punishments> Hadith: 8053
   http://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-2266/page-8913
   Imam Dhahabi declared it a weak chain of narration in his commentary on Mustadrak due to the presence of Haroon bin Haroon. Khara’iti and Bayhaqi reported through Muhriz, the brother of Haroon who is declared Munkir e Hadith by Bukhari and Nisai.
   Masawi Ikhlaq by al-Khara’iti http://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-8243/page-441
   Shuab ul Iman> Chapter: 37> Hadith: 5059
   http://library.islamweb.net/hadith/display_hbook.php?bk_no=682&pid=335609&hid=5059
3. Al Mu’jam Al Ausat by Tabrani> Chapter: al Meem> whose name is Muhammad> Muhammad bin yasir Al Hiza> Hadith: 6854
   http://library.islamweb.net/newlibrary/display_book.php?flag=1&bk_no=85&bookhad=6829
   Shuab ul Eman by Bayhaqi> Chapter: 37
   http://library.islamweb.net/hadith/display_hbook.php?bk_no=682&pid=335609&hid=4976
4. Sheikh Albani declared it Da’if in “Daif At Targheeb” (1449)
   http://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-171/page-715
5. Al Ausat (6854), Shuab Ul Iman(4976) Mustadrak al-Hakim(8053), Shuab Ul Iman(5059), Masawi al Akhlaq(415)
   Narrator: Abu Huraira
   The Prophet (pbuh) said,
   “Four people entail Allah’s wrath in night and day. ” It was asked, “Who are they, Messenger of Allah?”
   He answered, “Effeminate men and masculine women, the adulterer of animals and sodomizers.” 3
   Grade: Da’eef (Albani) 4
   
   6. Ibn Majah English reference: Vol. 3, Book 20, Hadith 2564
   Arabic reference: Book 20, Hadith 2661
6. Sahih Isnad(Ahmad Shakir) http://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-98139/page-1222
7. Hasan Isnad/Jayyid (Shoaib Arnaut) http://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-98139/page-1222
8. Hasan (Sameer Ameen Zihri) http://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-9111/page-1189
9. Trustworthy (Ibn Hajar) 
   https://sunnah.com/urn/2115030
   Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 4464
   In-book reference: Book 40, Hadith 114
   English translation: Book 39, Hadith 4449
   Online Source: https://sunnah.com/abudawud/40/114
   
10. Again repeated in the Trimidhi with the same narrators.
    Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1455
    In-book reference: Book 17, Hadith 38
    English translation: Vol. 3, Book 15, Hadith 1455
    Online Source: https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/17/38
    Ibn Hajar
    Reported by Ahmad and Al-Arba’a(four Imams). Its narrators are reliable. However, there is some difference regarding it (i.e. its legal rulings)
    https://sunnah.com/urn/2115030