Question

Kindly provide the Hadith which says we should kill snakes and lizards. Should we kill all types of snakes and where should we kill them?

Answer

1) Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Kill all snakes, kill the snake that has two white lines on it’s back as well as the snake that has a short tail for verily they snatch away your eyesight and they cause [a woman to] miscarry”.

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 3297, Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2233)

2) Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“If you see a snake at your residence  then say to it, we ask you by the covenant of Nuh (‘alayhis salam) and the covenant of Sulayman ibn Dawud (‘alayhimas salam) that you do not harm us. If it re appears then kill it”

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1485. Declared sound –hasan– by Imam Tirmidhi)

3) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) commanded to kill the two black creatures in Salah, snakes and scorpions.

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 390. Declared sound -hasan- by Imam Tirmidhi)

4) Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Kill all types of snakes, whomsoever [does not kill the snake] fearing it’s revenge, is not from us”

(Sunan Nasai -Al Mujtaba-, Hadith: 3194 and  Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 5249)

See here for the Hadith on killing lizards.

Kindly consult a reputable Darul Ifta/Mufti for a ruling and for the details of the permissibility of killing  all types of snakes, irrespective of where it is found.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar