TRIMMING AND CLIPPING THE WING FEATHERS OF PET BIRDS

In principal and fundamentally to cut the limbs and the extremities or any part of any living creature without proper reason and need is impermissible. However, if there is a need to do this on the basis of some valid and beneficial reason, then there is leeway for this and permission as well. Together with this, it must be made clear that to cause undue pain and harm (discomfort) to animals and birds is disallowed and impermissible. However, for the sake of the protection of animals and birds, and on the basis of a valid prudent measure, to attain benefit and due to need, even if the animal is caused slight discomfort (pain), then in the light of the Shari’at, this is permissible. The example and precedent of this is present in the Shari’at, as is in the case of the castration of animals which is done so that the meat becomes more succulent and this is correct (i.e. valid). It is even proven that Nabi Kareem صلى الله عليه وسلمdid the Qurbani of castrated animals. Similarly, there is a Hadith e Mubaaraka in Sahih Bukhari from Hazrat Anas ر ضی الہ ضنہthat,

Hazrat Anas ر ضی الہ ضنہsaid that I took with me one of my brothers in the Holy Presence of Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلمso that Huzoor صلى الله عليه وسلمcould do his Tahneek and Huzoor صلى الله عليه وسلمwas in one of his (sheep) pens and I saw that He صلى الله عليه وسلمwas branding a sheep. I assumed that it was said that (He صلى الله عليه وسلمwas) branding it on its ear. While presenting an annotation on the above mentioned Hadith Huzoor Shareh Bukhari Hazrat Allama Mufti Muhammad Sharif ul Haq Amjadi یی ہ رہstates in Nuzhat ul Qaari: From this Hadith it is proven that with the exception of the face, it is allowed to brand or tag an animal anywhere else (on its body) as a sign (of identification), as long as it is minimal and it is needed. (Nuzhat ul Qaari, Daa-ir ul Barkaat, Ghosi Shareef, Vol 8, Page 202)

And Allama Ibn Nujaim Al Misri یی ہ رہstates in Bahrur Raa’iq

The Principal (established rule) is that to cause (some) discomfort to the animal due to some beneficial reason is permissible. (Like in the case of shoeing a horse). (Al Bahrur Raa’iq, Vol 9, Page 375, Book of Disapprovals) It is in Fatawa Hindiya:

There is no harm (i.e. no consequence) in cutting the tail of a (fat tailed) sheep, when it has separated from its (actual) tail area and is hanging and is hindering the sheep from walking (slows it down), hindering it from catching up (with the flock), and when lagging behind puts it at risk of (being attacked by) wolves. The gist of all this is that to castrate an animal or to brand (or tag) it for the purpose of identification etc. anywhere, with the exception of its face, to shoe a horse, or to cut off the tail of a fat tailed sheep is much more painful than clipping (trimming) the excess empty wing feathers of a pet bird. However, due to prudence and beneficial reasons, and as per need, permission for this will be given. Now, let us direct our attention towards the actual answer. Most of the experts say that the birds do not feel any pain when their wing feathers are clipped or trimmed. In other words, when it’s excessive long wing feathers (which are called the flight feathers or primary wing feathers) are trimmed at the edges, and they say that this is similar to clipping ones nails or hair etc. One of the reasons for trimming or clipping the wing feathers of pet birds is that when the bird stays in the house and is not inside its cage, then in such a case when it flies very high, it will crash into the ceiling, walls, windows and ceiling fans etc. which will lead to it being severely injured, or it could be killed. This is one of the reasons why the edges of the wing feathers of pet birds are trimmed or clipped. In other words, so that it does not soar at such a speed and height that causes it such injury or death. Thus, it is done to protect them from such hazards and injuries. It must be futher noted that the bird moults and the bird sheds the cut feathers and grows new ones (so this also is not something which stops permanent growth). It must also be noted that according to the experts in this field the purpose of clipping a bird’s wings is not

to prevent flight completely but to ensure the bird is unable to achieve or sustain upward flight and to prevent escape, unwanted roaming, and exposure to dangerous situations.

The summary and gist of all this, is that if there is a valid reason, which is beneficial and one which is needed, such as if it is a very new bird which is not familiar with the surroundings, then if its wing feathers are not trimmed, it will fly away or it will crash into something and be injured, then on the basis of such prudence and need, to trim or clip the edges of the excess wing feathers of the bird which are empty and bare from inside, and which does not cause the bird any pain (or if it does it is minimum discomfort), in other words, the pet bird’s wing feathers should be trimmed or clipped at a point where it causes the least discomfort, and if these wing feathers are able to grow again, then according to the Shari’at, there does not seem to be any objection (disapproval) to this. In other words, there is leeway and permission for clipping or trimming the wing feathers of pet birds, while adhering to the above mentioned conditions. Further to this, it is in Fathul Baari the annotation of Sahih Bukhari from Hazrat Anas ر ضی الہ ضنہ that,

Nabi Kareem صلى الله عليه وسلمhad the best character. I had a brother who was known as Abu Umair. The narrator says, I assume that he had left drinking milk. When Huzoor صلى الله عليه وسلمwould visit us, He صلى الله عليه وسلم would say, O Abu Umair! What has happened to the little nightingale (or sparrow). Nughar was a bird with which he used to play. Allama Ibn Hajr Asqalani یی ہ رہstates as follows under this Hadith in Fathul Baari: It is permitted to call a childless one (be it a child) by an epithet, for little children to play with birds is permissible, for parents to allow their children to play with permissible toys is permissible, to spend money on those lawful things which please the children is permissible, to keep a bird in a cage and to clip (trim) its wing feathers is also permissible, because the

bird of Abu Umair would have been kept either in a cage or by clipping its wing feathers. So the ruling of both is alike. (Fathul Baari, Vol.10, Page 480/481) Thus, in light of the above mentioned explanations and annotations, there is leeway and permission to trim that portion of the edges of the bare wing feathers of pet birds.