Question # 572: Can we use electric insect killer to kill mosquitoes?

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Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: Using electric shock devices to kill insects is permissible in Islam for several reasons:

  • It’s different from the forbidden practice of killing with fire, as electricity doesn’t burn but destroys cells rapidly.
  • It’s necessary for controlling harmful insects, as supported by Islamic scholars.
  • The intention is to ward off harm, not to torment the insects.
  • It’s often the most practical and least harmful method available.
  • Electric shock is a quick death, aligning with the Islamic principle of killing humanely when necessary.

Long Answer: There is nothing wrong with using machines that give electric shocks, which are well-known nowadays, to kill insects and get rid of them. That is for a number of reasons:

  • What is forbidden is killing with fire because of the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه), according to which the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “No one should punish with fire except Allah.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari). The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) saw an anthill that one of the Companions had burned with fire, and he said: “No one should punish with fire except the Lord of fire.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood; classed as saheeh by al-Nawawi in Riyadh al-Saaliheen and by al-Albani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah).
  • Electric shocks are different from fire because killing with electricity refers to using the electrical current in order to destroy cells and break the blood vessels in a rapid manner. If the current is increased to a higher level, then heat is produced, which appears on the victim as a change of color and scorching, so it appears as if he has been burned with fire, but in fact, it is electricity and not fire.
  • There is an obvious need for this beneficial method of killing nuisance insects. A fatwa by ‘Scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas’ states: “If these insects are indeed harmful and there is no way to put a stop to their harm except killing them by means of electric shocks and the like, then it is permissible to kill them in that way as an exception to the command to kill properly in cases of necessity, because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم): “There are five kinds of creatures, all of which are harmful and may be killed inside and outside the sanctuary: crows, kites, scorpions, rats, and vicious dogs” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). And because the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) enjoined fully submerging flies that land in one’s drink, and that may mean killing them [(Al-Bukhari)]. (Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah)
  • Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said concerning this machine in Fatawa Noor ‘ala al-Darb (al-Haywaanaat): There is nothing wrong with it for a number of reasons:
    • The shock it gives does not cause burning; rather, it is a shock that sucks out the life, based on the fact that if a piece of paper is placed on this machine, it does not burn.
    • The one who sets up this machine does not intend to torment the mosquitoes and insects with fire; rather, his aim is to ward off their harm. The hadith forbids tormenting with fire, and the one who uses this machine does not intend to cause pain to them except for the purpose of warding off their harm.
    • In most cases, it is not possible to kill these insects except by means of this machine or by means of chemicals that give off an unpleasant smell and may cause harm to the body.
  • There is nothing wrong with it, and this does not come under the heading of tormenting with fire because, according to what we know about it, the insect dies as a result of the electric shock, and what proves this is that if you were to bring a piece of paper and put it on this machine, it would not burn, which shows that this does not come under the heading of burning but rather under the heading of electric shock, just as if the person were to touch an exposed electrical cable, he would die without being burnt (Liqaa’aat al-Bab il-Maftooh)
  • Killing by electric shocks is the fastest means of killing, and therefore, it does not go against the command regarding killing in a good manner as it was narrated by Shaddaad ibn Aws (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “… so if you have to kill, kill in a good manner…” (Sahih Muslim)

(The above reply is based on the following resources:

  • Islamqa.info
  • Islamweb.net)

 

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam