Is it permissible to keep birds in a cage?

Certain animals and birds are naturally beautiful in their color, song, and other qualities. Everyone appreciates beauty, and this is a blessing from Allah Most High that calls for gratitude.

Allah says in the Qur'an:

قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللهِ الَّتي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِه وَالطَّيِّبَاتِ مِن الرِّزْقِ

“(O Prophet!) Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has brought forth for His servants, and the good things of provision?” [1]

والْخَيْلَ والْبِغَالَ والْحَمِيرَ لِتَرْكَبُوهَا وَزِينَةً

“And (He created) horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and as adornment.” [2]

Imam Qurtubi said: “Not everything used for beauty is disliked. Only if there is a specific prohibition in the Sharia or if it is done for showing off [3] does it become forbidden.” [4]

In this regard, the majority of scholars (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i) have permitted keeping birds in cages and trading them as long as it does not go against the principles of Sharia [5].

They cite as evidence the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):

“O Abu Umair! What happened to the Nughair [6]?” [7]

Ibn Hajar said: “This hadith indicates that it is permissible to keep birds in cages.” [8]

However, the following conditions must be met for keeping birds in cages to be permissible:

• Avoid pride and arrogance;

• Keeping birds should not interfere with acts of worship;

• Do not waste food when feeding them;

• Feed them regularly. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

  “A woman was punished and entered Hell for imprisoning a cat, neither feeding it nor letting it eat from the earth’s creatures.” [9]

• Keeping birds should not lead to their suffering or harm.

Therefore, based on these conditions, it is permissible to keep birds in cages. However, it is better not to separate them from their mates, not to keep them alone, and not to keep them with predatory birds.

Department of Sharia and Fatwa

[1] Al-A'raf, 32

[2] An-Nahl, 8

[3] Actions done for showing off, not for the sake of Allah.

[4] Tafsir al-Qurtubi, 7/97.

[5] Hashiyat Ibn Abidin, 6/401. Mawahib al-Jalil, 3/222. Mughni al-Muhtaj, 4/208.

[6] A small bird with a red beak, similar to a sparrow. Some say it is a nightingale.

[7] Bukhari, No. 5778. Muslim, No. 2150.

[8] Fath al-Bari, 10/586.

[9] Bukhari, No. 3295. Muslim, No. 2242.