In this book the author shows that the Prophetic Sunnah preceded modern civilisation in caring for animals, their safety and gentle treatment — in guidance, instructions and rulings as well as in practice.
Its forms of kindness to animals include commands to give them water and food, to ride, slaughter and hunt them well, to give them rest and protect them, to care for useful kinds and benefit from them, the prohibition of slaughtering milk-giving females, care for their health, and honouring them by naming them. The Sunnah also forbade harming animals: destroying useful animals without need in peace or war, using them as targets, confining them to die, mutilating them, cutting off part of a living animal, exterminating any species, castration, branding, striking them on the face, cursing, frightening them or setting them against one another. It commanded preserving good breeds, and encouraged animal reserves and the care, use and endowment of stray and released animals.
