KUALA LUMPUR – The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has called on Muslims to practise kindness and compassion towards all animals, including stray animals and wildlife.
In conjunction with the Friday sermon titled ‘Ihsan Terhadap Makhluk Allah SWT’ (compassion towards Allah SWT’s creatures), which was delivered at mosques across Selangor today, His Royal Highness urged the public to reflect on and understand the message conveyed in the sermon, Bernama reported.
According to a post on the Selangor Royal Office’s Facebook page, Sultan Sharafuddin said humans, as stewards of the earth, carry a significant responsibility to care for, protect and manage the environment responsibly.
This responsibility extends to all elements of creation, 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.”
The Ruler emphasised that the relationship between humans and other creatures must be guided by compassion and responsibility.
He said Prophet Muhammad had placed great importance on showing kindness towards animals, with Islam teaching its followers to treat animals well by providing them with food and water, or at the very least, avoiding any form of cruelty towards creatures created by Allah.
However, Sultan Sharafuddin noted that different considerations apply when wildlife threatens public safety or causes damage to property.
“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,” the post stated.
The Selangor Ruler stressed that showing compassion towards animals and safeguarding human safety were not opposing principles.
Instead, he said both reflected the beauty of Islamic teachings, which emphasise balance and placing every matter within its appropriate context. – August 14, 2026