Muslims are often confused about whether or not they are allowed to have pet snakes. Some are unsure if it is considered haram, while others are unsure of the rules that are involved in owning a snake as a pet. This is a complicated question, and it’s one that doesn’t have a clear answer.
So I went ahead and searched the internet as well as asked a few local imams on what they think, and here is what I’ve found.
Are pet snakes haram? Pet Snakes are not haram if it is harmless, without fangs, and with no venom or the venom has been removed, otherwise, it’s haram to keep a pet snake. Pet Snakes are halal only if they pose no danger to their owner, the family, or the local community.
This should pretty much answer your question, but to understand why pet snakes are haram conditionally and what you should do with them to avoid it becoming a sinful act, keep reading.
Contents
When are Pet Snakes Haram?
The rules regarding pet snakes are the same as keeping other pets and animals in the house.
You can only keep pets that fulfill a certain function in Islam. Dogs may be kept if they defend the home or family, but it’s debatable whether you can maintain dogs as pets in the same way that westerners do.
Or at least it was debatable until the spring of 2021 when the Azhar in Egypt has finally announced that it was okay to keep dogs as pets just as companions and not to serve a specific practical purpose, which is a breakthrough that came as a huge relief to dog lovers in the Arab world who could finally rest knowing that their fluffy dogs are fine.
Cats have always been allowed as pets in Islam, and early Muslims as well as the prophet are known to have a finding of cats, so much so that cats are allowed in Mosques and can roam freely without any interruption.
Snakes, however, are much more complicated. Snakes are not exactly liked in Islam, and it’s well known that snakes were a symbol/incarnation of Satan or the devil and were the image in which he revealed himself to Adam and eve Jannah to convince them to eat the forbidden apple.
Although the details of this story are now quite controversial in Islam, especially the snake part, snakes are still not quite liked in the Muslim world. But, as with everyone else, exotic pets are becoming more and more popular, and more and more Muslims are looking to get pet snakes.
This has forced Islamic constitutions to look into the matter more seriously to guide Muslims, and as it turns out; there is no clear answer on whether you keep pet snakes as haram.
Some Imams remain strict that pet snakes are haram altogether, and that Muslims should be trying to kill snakes when they encounter them, not go the opposite way and get pet snakes.
But more modern Imams and Sheikhs have analyzed things more deeply and believe that there is no harm in keeping a harmless snake.
A pet is haram in Islam to keep if the act of keeping the pet in captivity harms the animal, harms the people in the house, or distracts the Muslim from carrying out his religious duties and obligations.
Keeping a harmless snake breaks none of these rules. In fact, snakes are lower-maintenance than dogs, and non-dangerous species are less of a risk than dogs.
So, keeping a pet snake should be completely halal for Muslims if the snake poses no danger to the people or other pets in the house.
When is keeping a pet snake haram?
Keeping a pet snake is haram for Muslims if the pet snake poses any risk or danger to the Muslim family in the house, the other pets in the house, or the community in general (such as if it escapes and harms someone).
Keeping a pet snake is also haram if by keeping the pet snake in captivity you are harming the snake, which is not true in snakes who are solitary creatures by nature and don’t interact much with even their own species.
You don’t even need to take snakes out for walks in the sun as you do with dogs, and you can learn why you can’t take snakes outside in the public here.
As long as you are giving the snake its best life and are making sure it poses no danger to no one, it should be completely fine to keep the snake as a pet.
Why is keeping a pet snake controversial in Islam?
In Islam, keeping “impure animals” is forbidden. Some animals are considered impure in Islam, and the list includes pigs, lizards, and predator animals. And, of course, Snakes. Keeping those impure animals is prohibited.
In Islam, it’s also permitted to kill animals in the house if they are going to cause people harm, and also includes snakes.
The Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) forbade the killing of snakes in houses
While the Messanger Muhammed (PBUH) ordered the killing of snakes in very specific situations, he also forbade the killing of it in other situations, for example, when found in your house.
According to tradition, Nafi’ said that Abu Lubaba went to Ibn ‘Umar and requested him to build a door in his home so they might approach the mosque. They discovered a recent slough of the snake, at which point Abdullah remarked, “Find out what it is and destroy it.” Abu Lubaba responded, “Don’t kill them, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH), forbade the killing of snakes found in houses”
Snakes are not an embodiment or reflection of Shaytan (Satan)
Shaytan is frequently confused with the Christian Satan. Shaytan is scarcely mentioned in standard Muslim literature as having a vessel. He is recognized only as a voice that may be heard but not seen, attempting to seduce people.
The mixing of the Christian and Islamic versions appears to be due to Shaytan’s role in Adam’s encounters, according to Al-Bukhari. According to the Quran, there is no mention of Shaytan being a snake that merely “whispers to Adam” before inspiring him to eat the prohibited fruit.
Given the Muslim perspective and belief that the Shaytan may whisper to each of us and urge us to go against God, it appears that this may be comparable to the tempting of Adam and Iblis’ snake form is only linked with him as a result of Christian-Muslim comparisons.
Conclusion
The fatwa on pet snakes are not always clear, but Muslims are generally forbidden to keep poisonous or harmful animals as pets. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) forbade the killing of snakes found in houses and encouraged people to kill anything that harms others.
If you’re keeping a snake with good intentions for its well-being without any risk posed to anyone, then it’s likely safe from being haram.
However, if your intention is simply for fashion or decoration purposes, then it may be haram because there are many other ways to adorn your home with no harm involved whatsoever.
It is also important when considering whether something is haram in Islam that we consider how Shaytan can try and tempt us into making an inappropriate decision.
In conclusion, the verdict on pet snakes is still up for debate, but the most recent fatwas state that you can keep snakes as pets as long as they pose no risk to anyone and that keeping them is not harmful to them.
Before you go, if you are interested in exotic pets, make sure to also check out our guide to are Monkeys haram for Muslims here.
Helpful Resources
Daru-iliftaa – Keeping a snake as a pet
Sahih al-Bukhari » Penalty of Hunting while on Pilgrimage – كتاب جزاء الصيد »
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