Here is Islam’s system of kindness to creatures which was in place 1400 years before the rest of the world. A Muslim gets reward for kindness to animals and cruelty to them is punishable:
PARADISE
A man was granted Paradise for giving water to a dog suffering from severe thirst. (Bukhari)
HELL
A woman was destined for Hell for tying up a cat and starving it to death. (Bukhari)
KINDNESS
Once on a journey with the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, one of his companions took the chicks of a mother bird away and she began fluttering in distress. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam ordered they be returned. (Abu Dawud)
KILLING
The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: ‘Whoever kills a bird without any reason will be punished for it on the day of resurrection.’ (Shuabul Imaan) Animals can be killed when one needs to eat.
CRUEL SPORTS
The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam cursed the person who used any living thing as a target. (Muslim) He prohibited beating animals on the face. (Majma)
CONSIDERATION
The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam told a person milking a goat: ‘When you milk the animal, leave some milk for its children as well.’ (Majma) The Hadith prohibits using an animal’s back to sit on unnecessarily since it unduly burdens the creature. (Abu Dawud)
REWARD
The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam told a Sahaabi who asked if there was reward for kindness to animals, that there is reward for kindness to every living thing. (Bukhari)
Shamail Kubra, Vol 4, Pg271-4
