In Sahih Muslim, it is reported that a man asked Ibn Umar, “Which creatures may a man kill while in the state of ihram?” He replied, “One of the Prophet’s wives told me that he used to command the killing of a vicious dog, a mouse, a scorpion, a kite, a crow, and a snake.” He said: “This applies in the prayer as well.” (1)

Accordingly, it is sunnah to kill a snake. If it attacks him, he must kill it in self-defence. He may likewise kill a scorpion, which stings more often than a snake bites. A snake does not always bite; it may sometimes pass over a person’s foot without biting him. But when a scorpion senses human skin, it stings it.

His statement, “and lice,” means that one may kill lice during the prayer. A louse is a small insect that develops in clothing and hair; it bites the skin, sucks blood, and distracts a person. He may therefore kill it. If it distracts him, killing it is recommended. But if he kills it and his hand becomes stained with blood, is that blood impure?

The answer is that it is not impure, because it is from a creature whose blood does not flow, like the blood found in flies; it is neither harmful nor impure.

Issue: If someone were to ask, “May he scratch himself if he experiences an itch?”

The answer is that he may, because if he does not, he will be greatly distracted. Thus, he may scratch himself. If the itch moves from one ear to the other, then to the neck, may he follow it as it moves?