Ethics and Animals: Islamic Approach

Nowadays, animal ethics/rights is a main branch in applied ethics. In second half of the 20th century, this field was seriously put in the center of philosophical discussions, and various theories came into existence in defense of animals. After introducing western theories on this issue, this essay by enjoying of novel thoughts of Allamah Tabatabai that adapted from the Koran’s doctrines, would set forth a theory on animal status that copes with Islamic texts about animals. Allamah Tabatabai by enjoying of ayah 38 of surah al-Araf believes that animals have private beliefs, and these private beliefs result in that animals reveal various ethical behaviors, that they must be responsible for them. So, they should revive in the resurrection. The consequence of this view is that animals are persons, and the life could be meaningful or meaningless for them. This exalted status results in high ethical rights for them that we can observe them in Islamic texts.