The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Allah appreciated his deed and forgave him.” The Companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah, are we rewarded for kindness to animals?” He replied, “There is a reward for every living creature.” Al-Bukhārī), p. 333.

Sound. Muslim and others also transmitted it from Abū Hurayrah as a report traced back to the Prophet, in a fuller version. I cited its wording and documented its sources in al-Ahādīth al-Sahīhah (29).

477—(The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “A woman entered the Fire because of a cat she had confined: she neither fed it nor allowed it to eat the small creatures of the earth.” Al-Bukhārī) p. 334.

Sound. Muslim also narrated it from Abd Allāh ibn Umar as a report traced back to the Prophet. It is documented in the preceding source (28).

478—(The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saw a donkey branded on the face—that is, cauterized on its face—and denounced it. He said: “By Allah, I shall brand only at the point farthest from the face.” Muslim) p. 334.

Sound. Muslim transmitted it (163/6–164) from Ibn Abbās, who related the report. It adds: “He ordered that a donkey belonging to him be branded on the two sides of its rump. He was therefore the first to brand the two sides of the rump.”

(The two sides of the rump): These are the two projecting edges of the hips adjoining the anus.

479—(Another hadith states: “A donkey that had been branded on its face was led past the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He said: ‘Have you not been informed that I cursed whoever brands an animal on its face or strikes it on its face?’” Abū Dāwūd) p. 334.

Sound. Abū Dāwūd transmitted it (2564) through Sufyān, from Abū al-Zubayr—