SHAH ALAM, Aug 14 — The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj has called on Muslims to always do good and show compassion towards all animals, including strays and wildlife.
In line with the Friday sermon titled ‘Ihsan Terhadap Mahkluk Allah SWT’ (compassion towards Allah SWT’s creatures) delivered at mosques throughout Selangor today, His Royal Highness also called on the people to reflect on and understand its contents.
As stewards of the earth, humans bear a great responsibility to care for, protect and manage the environment responsibly, including animals, plants, hills, seas, and rivers.
“All these are signs of the greatness of Allah SWT, and their sustainability must be protected and preserved," said the Ruler via a post on the Selangor Royal Office’s Facebook page.
Sultan Sharafuddin noted that the relationship between humans and other creatures should always be built on compassion and responsibility.
The Prophet Muhammad placed great emphasis on compassion towards animals, and Islam teaches its followers to treat animals well by providing them with food and water, or at the very least, not mistreating any animal created by Allah SWT.
However, His Royal Highness said the situation differs when wildlife poses a threat to public safety or causes property damage.
“In such circumstances, Islam allows action to be taken to prevent harm, which is in line with the objectives of the Maqasid Syariah, namely protecting life and property,” said Sultan Sharafuddin.
Showing compassion towards animals and ensuring human safety were not contradictory; both are part of the beauty of Islamic teachings, which place everything in its proper context.
