Question
What is the ruling on killing spiders?
Answer
Muhtaram / Muhtaramah
In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāh wa-barakātuh.
It is permissible to kill insects which have the potential of harming a person for example spiders, scorpions etc. However, one should not burn them or drown them. It is makrooh (detestable) to kill insects which do not harm for example small ants.
Some scholars are of the opinion that spiders should not be killed for it was a means of saving Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم and Abu Bakr رضى الله عنه during the migration when they hid in the cave of Thaur. It is narrated that Ali رضى الله عنه use to prohibit killing spiders. However, this is a weak narration. Furthermore, there is another narration from Ali رضى الله عنه which instructs that one should clean ones home from cobwebs because leaving it causes poverty. Despite being weak, this second narration is strengthened by other narrations which encourage cleanliness. (Ma’ariful Quran 6/696)
الفتاوى الهندية – (ج 5 / ص 361)
وإحراق القمل والعقرب بالنار مكروه
قتل النملة تكلموا فيها والمختار أنه إذا ابتدأت بالأذى لا بأس بقتلها وإن لم تبتدئ يكره قتلها واتفقوا على أنه يكره إلقاؤها في الماء وقتل القملة يجوز بكل حال كذا في الخلاصة
And Allah knows best
Darul Iftaa
Madrasah Inaa’miyyah
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