317. Kill An Animal

In fact it’s recommended to kill the lizard 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam encouraged us to kill certain animals or pests because they’re HARMFUL. 

He Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

“There are five animals for which there is no blame on the one who kills them: crows, kites (hawk-like birds), mice/rats, scorpions and mad dogs.”

 (al-Bukhaari, 1828)

These are so harmful that the  Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam instructed us to kill them EVEN when we’re in the Haram. 

Similarly he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam instructed us to kill the ‘wazagh’ which is translated by some as a ‘lizard’ or ‘gecko’ or ‘salamander’ for the SAME reason. 

The wazagh is a very harmful pest that can cause severe allergies and even be poisonous if it falls in our food. 

That’s the reason for it’s killing and nothing else. 

The scholars such as Shaikh Saamee al-Maajid said:

"The animal in question is a type of house gecko or lizard known in Arabic by the name “wazagh”. It is a common household pest in the Middle East that lives on the walls and in the crevices of people’s homes. The instruction to kill the wazagh is NO DIFFERENT than the instruction to kill the scorpion, the poisonous snake, the mouse, and the feral dog that attacks people." 

And they said:

“The instruction to kill the wazagh is for the same reason – it is a pest that poses harm to people. If a wazagh comes in contact with the skin, it can sometimes induce serious irritation. For this reason, it is also known to Arabs as sâmm abras (literally, “the leprosy venom”).

It is not killed because of its blowing on the fire kindled for Ibraheem Alaiyhis-Salaatu was-Salaam. 

When Prophet Muhammad Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam informed us that the wazagh blew upon the fire of Ibraheem Alaiyhis-Salaatu was-Salaam to help fan the flames, he was merely depicting the distastefulness of the animal and the extent of its harmfulness. 

He was merely characterizing this species as an unpleasant one.” (Fataawaa- Islamtoday)

Shaikh Sulaymaan al-‘Alwaan said:
"Killing the wazagh is prescribed because there is a great deal of evidence to that effect. It should be done with a tool or implement, etc. 

Yes we can kill pests like ants, mice, lizards, cockroaches, etc if they’re a bother to us. 

But we should kill them in a way which is the most merciful and not torture them. 

So we can use insecticides but we should not use those methods that cause slow death or torture. 

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“If these insects are harmful, they may be killed with insecticides, but not with fire. 

The Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

“There are five pests that may be killed whether one is in ihraam or not: rats, scorpions, crows, kites [a hawk-like bird], and mad dogs.” (Muslim, 2071). 

Another report adds a sixth, snakes. 

Thus the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam told us that they are harmful pests, and that they are unlike other animals which do not do harm, and so he told us to kill them whether we are in ihraam or not. 

If other creatures, such as ants or cockroaches or dung-beetles, cause harm, they may also be killed with insecticides, but not with fire.”

(Fataawa Islaamiyaah, Ibn Baaz, 451)

And Allaah knows best