Are black cats haram?

The question in the title concerns Muslims and the word ‘haram’ means forbidden. The question, therefore, is asking whether a Muslim can be the owner and caregiver of a black cat as per the rules of the Quran. And the answer is yes, Muslims can own black cats and live with them because a black cat is not haram.

Black cat in a mosque.
Black cat in a mosque. Screenshot from video.

That statement is common sense because domestic cats in general are not haram. The colour of a cat’s coat shouldn’t make any difference. The reason why the colour black might make a difference is because there is a lot of superstition surrounding black cats and therefore in respect of religious beliefs they have a special significance, which is exactly why I am writing this article!

I am not a Muslim but I am a good researcher. I’m actually an atheist. There are a couple of videos on YouTube delivered by men who appear to be experts on the Koran and how to interpret it. Both of them state that black cats are not haram. The one below is by a very sensible guy.

Black cats are not haram

Another expert on the Koran, on YouTube (see video below), also tells us that black cats are not haram. He does, however, tell us that sometimes cats in general can contain ‘jinn’ or bring bad spirits into the house. These jinn may cause disruption in the house and if that happens the person should get rid of the cat. In the interests of cat welfare, he should have avoided the phrase ‘get rid of’ and used the phrase ‘carefully rehome’ instead!

Koran expert believes that cats can contain jinn and cause disruption in the home.

This expert on the Koran believes that domestic cats might contain troublesome spirits which I find a bit disturbing to be honest as the man is being superstitious. He has lots of followers on YouTube which is worrying. As you can see, I disagree with him strongly. He is promulgating superstition which is against the teachings of the Koran it seems to me.

A good article on the Khaleej Times by Sumayyah Meehan urges people not to be superstitious because superstition takes people away from the teachings of the Koran. The journalist states: “Belief in superstitions is considered to be a grave act of shirk, or ascribing partners to Allah, which is the one and only sin that Allah Almighty will not forgive.”

That is a very sensible approach to superstition. People should have a need not be superstitious. Superstition comes out of fear so people should eliminate superstition from their lives by finding ways to not be fearful or anxious.

On the IslamQA website a scholar suggested that jinns “do have the ability to take the form of a creature or serpent”. They add that these bad spirits “can come in the form of black dogs. Similarly, they can also come in the form of black cats”.

However, they go on to state that “this does not mean that every black cat is a jinn”.

Once again this is superstition and I am uncomfortable with it. It is perpetuating the idea that people had back in the Middle Ages that there is an association between black cats and the devil. This is entirely untrue. It is based on superstition unsupported by logic and science and it is time that the world rids itself of this toxic superstition which can lead to uneducated people harming black cats as they are frightened of them.

It is well known that the Prophet Muhammad loved cats and common-sense dictates that he didn’t differentiate between black cats or white cats or any other colour of cat. You either like cats and respect them or you don’t. The colour of the coat is irrelevant. If domestic cats in general are not haram then black cats are not haram. That is the clear and obvious conclusion.

2 thoughts on “Are black cats haram?”

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