Paradise. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: “Descend from it, all of you, as enemies to one another.” [Tā Hā: 123] Thus, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded that snakes generally be killed.
He also said: “In Medina there are jinn who have embraced Islam”—meaning snakes—“so if you see any of them, give it warning for three days. If it appears to you after that, kill it, for it is a devil.” This qualified his general command to kill snakes. Snakes in Medina may therefore not be killed until they have been warned three times, except for the two-striped snake and the short-tailed snake, concerning which the hadith states that they snatch away people’s sight and cause pregnant women to miscarry.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also prohibited killing snakes found in houses. This may refer specifically to houses in Medina, or to all houses, whether in Medina or elsewhere. Given this possibility, it is recommended, though not obligatory, that snakes found in houses outside Medina should not be killed until they have been warned three times, unlike snakes in Medina. As for snakes in deserts and valleys, there is no disagreement that they may be killed without warning, since they remain subject to the command to kill them.
Geckos, however, are to be killed wherever they are found, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded that they be killed and called them little noxious creatures. Likewise, the other creatures he commanded to be killed are to be killed: scorpions, mice, kites and vicious dogs.
“The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prohibited killing four creatures: the bee, the ant, the hoopoe and the shrike.” A bee is not to be killed because it provides benefit while alive, whereas its flesh provides no benefit when it is killed. Nor is an ant to be killed, because its flesh provides no benefit when it is killed, and it possesses the praiseworthy quality of glorifying Allah. This is related in the account of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, revealing to one of the prophets after he had burned an ant colony because one of them had stung him—a single ant had stung him, one ant had bitten him—“You have burned an entire community that glorifies Allah.”
It is also narrated that one of the prophets went out with the people to pray for rain and saw an ant raising some of its legs. He said: “Go back, for your prayer has been answered on account of this ant.” If, however, ants cause harm, they may be killed because of that harm. Likewise, any harmful creatures, such as fleas and lice, may be killed. None of these may be killed with fire, because that constitutes mutilation and torture. Success is granted by Allah.