Is it permissible to kill vermin unconditionally?

Answered by Shaykh Amjad Rasheed

Question:

Is it permissible to kill vermin unconditionally? What if it is outside the house and I fear harm or I fear that it would enter my house? How about roaches?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

It is permissible to kill harmful vermin such as snakes. In fact, it is praiseworthy to do so, as [scholars] stated explicitly. As for what neither benefits nor harms, it is not unlawful to kill it, rather it is offensive, whether it is inside the house or outside.

- Amjad Rasheed

(Translated by Lida Kahi)

السؤال: هل يجوز قتل الهوامّ على الإطلاق ؟ كيف لو كانت خارج البيت وخفت الأذى أو أن تدخل بيتي ؟ والصراصير ؟ الجواب : يجوز قتل الهوام المؤذية كالحية ونحوها بل يستحب ذلك كما صرحوا به ، وما لا ينفع ولا يضر فلا يحرم قتله لكن يكره ذلك ، وسواء في هذا التفصيل ما كان داخل البيت أو خارجه.

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