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Scorpions and snakes are subject to the Will of Allaah

Question

Some people claim that Allaah The Almighty sends snakes to bite a certain person but scorpions sting whomever they meet. How correct is this claim?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) ordered the killing of snakes and scorpions wherever they were found, even in the Sacred Precincts of Makkah. This is because they are poisonous and harmful. In a Hadeeth (narration) on the authority of ‘Aa'ishah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  her there were some animals that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) ordered to be killed wherever found: snakes, crows whose color combines black and white, rats, wild rapacious dogs, scorpions and kites. [Muslim]

However, a snake found in the house is an exception. If a man finds a snake in his house, it should be instructed to leave in a three-day interim. If it does not leave, he may kill it. In a Hadeeth on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) ordered anyone who sees a snake in his house to ask it to leave and give it three days, for it may be a Jinn. If it does not leave, he should kill it. [Muslim]

Snakes and scorpions alike can harm man and a person must beware of them. Indeed, both scorpions and snakes sting and bite only by the permission and will of Allaah The Almighty.

Allaah Knows best.

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