In Islam Haram refers to things and acts that are forbidden and unlawful according to the Quran and Sunnah.
It is Haram to keep certain animals as pets due to religious connotations.
When thinking about pets, the ones that are Haram are usually seen as unclean, as cleanliness is very important in Islam.
Only some animals are permissible as pets.
For example, pet dogs in Islam are conventionally thought of as ritually impure because of their urine and saliva and therefore should not be allowed to live in your house.
Cats on the other hand are seen as very clean animals and can be kept as pets.
With all of this in mind, you may be wondering, are parrots Haram?
The answer to this question is… no parrots are not Haram. It is not forbidden to keep a parrot as a pet in Islam. There are some conditions however, when it comes to keeping a parrot as a pet. It is permissible as long as you take good care of your parrot.
This article will explore the reasons that parrots are not Haram, how they must be treated in Islam, if it is Haram to keep parrots in cages, and if all scholars agree that parrots are not Haram.
Why are parrots not Haram when other animals are?
Pets are very important to many people’s lives, as they are loving companions and often become members of the family.
Even though there are guidelines for owning and caring for pets in Islam, many Muslims are devoted pet owners and many pets are acceptable, including parrots.
The only stipulations to keeping a pet as a Muslim are 1) that the pet must be permissible, 2) that the pet is not dangerous and may pose a threat, and 3) that the pet is well taken care of.
Islam has never actually forbidden any pets, except for pigs.
Rather there are specific places that certain pets must be kept or ways that they are treated.
Though dogs are technically Haram because they are ritually impure, guard dogs and hunting dogs can be kept.
Rather, because of dog’s impurity, they can contaminate ritual spaces where prayers will be given and therefore should not be allowed in.
Parrots are not forbidden in houses and are not impure.
One of the reasons that parrots are not Haram is because they are not dangerous as other birds may be.
Any birds with talons can be harmful to humans, which is why hawks, falcons, vultures, eagles are haram.
As well, the fact that parrots are seen as tamed birds makes them more suitable as pets and permissible in Islam.
How are parrots viewed in Islam?
Birds are incredibly important in Islam and appear throughout Muhammad’s life and in religious scriptures.
Like the other Abrahamic faiths, Islam refers to and depicts birds more broadly in many different forms.
They can be seen as protectors, messengers, nutritional sustenance, and symbols for the soul.
Parrots are not explicitly mentioned, but birds themselves have a deep importance and may different meanings.
Unlike dogs and pigs, birds (including parrots) are seen as pure animals, and there is no harm in keeping them as pets or keeping them in house.
According to Islamic teachings keeping birds is actually recommended, specifically, pigeons were named, but this is now taken to include non-dangerous birds such as parrots.
How must parrots be treated in Islam?
In Islam there is a large emphasize on the rights of animals.
The way Muslims treat animals, especially pets is mentioned in different Hadiths from prophet and Imams.
Parrots, and all pets, must be treated well.
They must be well fed, have water, are given toys, and are allowed adequate time outside of their cage to stretch their wings and move around.
It is also explicitly mentioned in Islamic traditions that any pets, including parrots, must not be harmed in any way.
If a parrot is harmed or tortured, then the owner would have to account for that cruelty and injustice on the Day of Judgement.
This is why it is so important in Islam that all pets are treated well and taken care of properly.
In fact, if a parrot is distressed, and not being taken care of, it is believed that they must be released.
However, as most parrots that become pets were born and raised in captivity, they cannot be released as they would not be able to fend for themselves in the wild.
Instead, in Islam if a parrot cannot be taken care of well, then it must be given or sold to someone who can care for it properly.
Is it Haram to keep a parrot in a cage?
The biggest issue that many Muslims may encounter is whether or not they can keep a parrot as a pet in a cage.
In Islamic teaching it is forbidden to torture or harm an animal.
Because of this, some people may be unsure if putting a parrot in a cage counts as a form of torture or harm.
If you believe that putting a parrot in a cage is a form of torture for them because they can no longer fly, then you may feel conflicted.
However, in Islam it is permissible to keep parrots in cages as long as they are given everything that they may need, including food and water.
Because they are seen as a creature of God, they cannot have their lives restricted, if you treat your parrot kindly and ensure they have enough space to move then they are being well taken care of.
Ultimately if you offer them everything they need, and do not harm them you can feel okay about keeping your parrot in a cage, and it is permissible in Islam.
Again, it is important to remember that most parrots that become pets are born in cages and captivity and therefore they are not being mistreated by being kept in a cage.
All in all, keeping a parrot in a cage is not forbidden in Islam.
Is it Haram to keep a parrot for entertainment?
Some may wonder if it is okay to keep a parrot as a pet as it can be seen as an extravagance and luxury.
Most scholars agree that it is permissible to keep a parrot in a cage as a pet because you enjoy looking at them as they are very pretty.
There is nothing wrong with keeping parrots for their beauty as long as they are given what they need for food, drink and kindness.
Beyond being pretty, many owners keep parrots for their voices and fascinating ability to mimic speech.
It is also permissible in Islam to keep a parrot for this reason.
The basic principle concerning the matter of keeping parrots for entertainment is that is it permitted, and there is no known evidence to the contrary.
Is it Haram to sell parrots?
No, it is not Haram to sell parrots.
As it is allowed to buy parrots for pets because of their beauty and voices, it is also permissible to sell them for these reasons.
There is no text in Islam that says it is Haram to sell them or keep parrots.
Does everyone agree that parrots are not Haram?
Although most scholars and people agree that it is not Haram to keep parrots as pets, and in fact keeping birds is recommended as they are important creatures in Islam, it is not universally agreed upon.
Some scholars believe that it is makrooh to keep parrots.
Makrooh is not the same as Haram, rather than being forbidden, it is disliked or offensive, but it is still one of the five categories in Islamic law.
Therefore, if a scholar says that keeping parrots is makrooh, then it is disapproved of to still do so.
Muslims are encouraged to avoid anything that is makrooh.
There are a few reasons that some scholars believe that keeping parrots may be makrooh.
One is that they say that people have no need to listen to parrots’ voices or enjoy looking at how beautiful they are.
This is instead seen as an extravagance and luxury, one that is not necessary to keep parrots for entertainment, and therefore should be avoided.
Second, though parrots are now tame and domesticated, they were once wild and often want to fly free.
Keeping them in cages, unable to be free is then seen as a cruelty.
Some parrots that are not treated properly can become bored, aggressive, anxious, and self-destructive which is evidence of them being mistreated.
Third, parrots are naturally social creatures and keeping them alone in cages for their entire lives can be seen as a form of torture.
In conclusion, despite the fact that keeping parrots as pets is not universally agreed upon, parrots are not Haram in any view.
As long as they are treated well and with kindness, they are permissible as pets.