REWARDS OF KILLING **"Al-wazagh"** LIZARDS

Killing lizards

 

In Islam, the reward for killing specific types of lizards (referred to as **"Al-wazagh"** in Arabic) is mentioned in authentic (Saheeh) Hadiths.

 

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### ** 1. Hadith from Sahih Muslim 

 

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 

*"Whoever kills a gecko (wazagh) with the first blow, he will have a hundred rewards. Whoever kills it with the second blow will have such and such reward, less than the first. Whoever kills it with the third blow will have such and such reward, less than the second."*

 

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: *"مَنْ قَتَلَ وَزَغَةً فِي أَوَّلِ ضَرْبَةٍ كُتِبَتْ لَهُ مِائَةُ حَسَنَةٍ، وَمَنْ قَتَلَهَا فِي الضَّرْبَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَلَهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، وَمَنْ قَتَلَهَا فِي الضَّرْبَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَلَهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا"*. [صحيح مسلم 2240]

 

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### ** 2. Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 

 

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 

*"Kill the wazagh (gecko), for it used to blow on the fire of Ibrahim (peace be upon him)."*

 

عَنْ أُمِّ شَرِيكٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَمَرَ بِقَتْلِ الْوَزَغِ وَقَالَ: *"كَانَ يَنْفُخُ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ"*. [صحيح البخاري 3359]

 

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### ** 3. Hadith from Sunan Ibn Majah 

 

Aisha (رضي الله عنها) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 

*"We kill these house lizards because the Prophet (ﷺ) told us that when Ibrahim was thrown into the fire, no creature tried to extinguish it except the lizard, which blew on it. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded that they should be killed."*

 

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: *"نَقْتُلُ هَذِهِ الْأَوْزَاغَ فَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَخْبَرَنَا أَنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَمَّا أُلْقِيَ فِي النَّارِ لَمْ تَكُنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ دَابَّةٌ إِلَّا أَطْفَأَتْهَا غَيْرَ الْوَزَغِ فَإِنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَنْفُخُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِقَتْلِهِ"*. [سنن ابن ماجه 3231]

 

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### **Key Points from the Hadiths:**

 

1. **Reward for Killing the Wazagh:**

 

- The first strike earns the highest reward, decreasing with subsequent strikes .

 

- The exact reward is unspecified but is described as significant.

 

 

2. **Reason for Killing:**

 

- The wazagh is harmful (noxious) and historically opposed Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) .

 

- It contaminates food and spreads disease .

 

3. **Does This Apply to All Lizards?**

 

- No, only the **wazagh** (gecko/house lizard) is mentioned. Other lizards (e.g., salamanders) are not included unless proven harmful .

 

 

4. **Scholarly Views:**

 

- Hanafi and Shafi’i scholars differentiate between harmful and harmless lizards .

 

- Killing non-harmful lizards is discouraged .

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### **Conclusion:**

 

The authentic Hadiths encourage killing the **wazagh** (a specific type of gecko/lizard) due to its harmful nature and historical animosity toward Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). The reward is greatest for killing it swiftly. Other lizards, unless harmful, should not be killed without justification.