Journal of Interreligious Studies on the Quran and the Bible

Journal of Interreligious Studies on the Quran and the Bible

Animal Rights in Wartime: A Comparative Study of Islamic and Christian Teachings

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Seyyed Mohammad Mousavi Moghaddam 1
Hasan Delavari 2
Seyyedeh Fatemeh Banifatemeh 3
1 Associate Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith Studies, Farabi College, University of Tehran, Tehran, IRAN.
2 Ph.D. student in Jurisprudence and Principles of Islamic Law, Qom University, Qom, IRAN
3 Master's student in Quran and Hadith Studies, Farabi College, University of Tehran, Tehran, IRAN.
10.22034/qb.2025.2062242.1043
Abstract
The present study aims to examine the ethical and jurisprudential aspects of animal rights in the context of war according to Islamic and Christian doctrines. This topic holds a significant ethical and legal position within traditions, reflecting different historical and cultural backgrounds as well as varied approaches to the issue. The primary research question is to analyze and critically compare Islamic and Christian perspectives on respecting animal rights during armed conflict, while also examining the related intellectual developments. The study aims to delineate the theoretical and practical frameworks of both religions in this field and to extract their points of convergence and divergence. The research methodology is based on a content analysis of sacred texts, jurisprudential and theological literature, and a descriptive-analytical review of the viewpoints of prominent thinkers from both religious schools. The findings indicate that within Islam, the killing and abuse of animals during war are strictly limited and only permitted in cases of necessity, with adherence to ethical principles. These teachings have demonstrated remarkable stability and continuity from the inception of Islam to the present. In contrast, Christian teachings have historically legitimized and, at times, mandated the killing of animals during wartime. Until the late twentieth century, the dominant Christian stance was not strongly protective of animal rights. However, contemporary philosophical and cultural transformations within Christianity have led to a fundamental reassessment and orientation towards the preservation and protection of animal rights in armed conflict. This study demonstrates that while Islam maintains a consistent theoretical and practical position, Christianity has undergone a significant historical evolution in its attitude towards animal rights during wartime.
Keywords
Animal rights
war
Islam.Christianity
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