Owning a pet monkey might seem like a fun idea, but Muslims are often unsure if this is actually halal or haram. Is it forbidden to keep monkeys as pets?
I did some research and actually went to the local mosque to ask the imam there so I could answer this question for you, and here is what I found.
So, is keeping a Pet Monkey haram for Muslims?
Keeping a pet monkey is considered haram as well as selling monkeys as pets by most Imams, although a few Fatwas have said that they can be halal, most Imams and Sheikhs advise against it following the Islamic guidelines of not keeping animals as pets unless for specific use with few exceptions.
There is quite a little bit more to it, so to my Muslim friends reading this, keep reading to know whether you can actually get a pet monkey or not.
Contents
Why is Keeping a Pet Monkey Haram?
In Islam, you can only keep pets that serve a specific purpose. For example, with dogs, you can keep dogs if they guard the property or the family, but it is debatable whether you can even keep dogs as pets in the way the westerners do.
Most recently, some Islamic institutions, including Al-Azhar in Egypt, has said that keeping a dog as pet even in the western way is allowed and completely halal because it does serve a purpose which is companionship and emotional support.
Cats have always been allowed to keep as pets by Muslims, and the prophet (PBUH) himself was incredibly nice with cats, and there was even one famous Islamic scholar and Sahabi who loved his cat so much that he was nicknamed (Abo Horaira), which is literally translated to “the father of the little cat”. An adorable nickname if you ask me.
However, since Monkeys do not exist in the Arabian peninsula, there are no early records of anything relating to Monkeys, which is why some say Halal. With that being said, most Sheikhs and Imamas agree that Monkeys should be forbidden following the logic of keeping pets in Islam, which goes something like this:
- Pets should serve a purpose (with rare exceptions)
- Pets should not be suffering when they are kept as pets, meaning they should be free, treated well, and have access to food and water (there is a famous story about a woman condemned to hell because she refused to feed her cat).
- Pets should be clean and do not make the house dirty
- Pets should not distract Muslims from their work or worship of Allah
Unfortunately, Monkeys fail these three rules:
- Monkeys serve no purpose as pets (for companionship, there are better animals, a dog or a cat is a much better companion).
- Monkeys do suffer as pets. Monkeys do not live comfortably in our homes and they suffer in captivity.
- Monkeys are filthy and dangerous,they transmit diseases and even throw poop at their owners in their anger bursts.
- Monkeys can easily distract you from working and worshipping Allah.
These are all very good reasons to consider Monkeys haram to keep as pets.
There is also another logic in Islam that follows (if it’s not a must, and it’s debated whether it’s halal or haram, consider it haram and stay as far away from it as possible).
Which also makes sense. I mean, if it’s gonna get you in trouble, it’s just to better avoid it altogether, right?
Can Muslims sell Monkeys?
Muslims can not sell monkeys according to most sheiks, and any money earned by selling monkeys is considered dirty money as well. Trading animals as pets is considered Haram by many sheiks and is frowned upon by most others.
What Pets are halal for Muslims to keep?
Muslims can keep some animals as pets. The most popular ones are:
- Cats
- Dogs
- Hamsters
- Birds (including parrots and canaries)
- Lizards, Chameleons or Geckos. In some cases it’s considered halal to keep a gecko as pet, but not with all Sheikhs. I would advice to ask around.
- Fish (in the fish bowl, not in an aquarium)
- Small birds like canaries or parrots are halal to keep as pets by most Sheikhs and Imamas these days. The same goes for lizards that do not harm humans, which is debatable whether it’s haram or halal
Do Muslims eat Monkeys?
It is completely prohibited for Muslims to eat monkeys and other primates. The halal diet for Muslims is a wide one, but it’s also a humane one by most modern standards, and while it contains animals like cows, birds (chicken), and goats, most animals are haram to eat, including pigs, monkeys, tigers, and vultures.
Can Muslims keep pets at home?
Muslims can keep pets at home as long as they serve a purpose and are treated well. Some of the popular pets for Muslims include cats, dogs, hamsters, fish and small birds. It’s considered haram to keep a pet monkey in the house as it is very difficult to treat them well without breaking Islamic rules.
Conclusion
In conclusion: Is keeping a pet monkey Haram for Muslims? The answer will depend on your cleric or Imam but most Sheikhs agree that Monkeys should be forbidden following the logic of keeping pets in Islam.
Monkeys serve no purpose as pets, they do suffer in captivity and can easily distract you from working or worshipping Allah. These are all very good reasons to consider Monkeys haram to keep as pets, but it’s always best to ask around before making your decision!
