With the end of Ramadan comes the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. It is the end of the month long fast, and a day of celebration for our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Islam teaches people that all living creatures – not just humans, but also animals – are beings that deserve kindness and respect. They are God’s creations, and it is the responsibility of humans to show them mercy, kindness, consideration, and compassion as we co-exist in this world. Islamic principles ask Muslims to keep this in mind and to protect these creatures. We shouldn’t allow harm to be brought upon them, or inflict abuse on animals with our own hands.

The Holy Qur’an states that all living beings praise God, even if this praise is not spoken in words or in prayer. The Prophet Muhammad even corrected his Companions who mistreated animals, and he spoke to them about how they must show them kindness and mercy.

There are Islamic verses that speak of how animals are creatures that have feelings of their own, and that they are a part of the spiritual and physical world. “A good deed done to an animal is like a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as cruelty to a human being.” Their lives must be cherished just as much as ours, and they too serve a purpose in our world. All living beings have a right to living a life free from pain and suffering.

“Whoever is kind to the creatures of God, is kind to himself.” Islamic teachings state that being kind to all living creatures around us is a basic day-to-day principle to live by. Regardless of religious beliefs, we should all follow in their footsteps and show kindness and mercy to everyone and everything around us. We all exist together in this world, and we must all do our part to ensure that everyone has a chance to live freely, exist peacefully, and prosper. Animals are no exception and we should do our part to protect them and the world around us.

We wish our Muslim brothers and sisters Eid Mubarak, and may we all take it upon ourselves to follow their example in showing compassion and kindness to all of God’s creations around us.