Have Mercy on Those on Earth

"The merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you."

Whenever I read this noble Hadith, I feel that the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) was raising us on a sublime meaning, teaching us that mercy is a feeling that lives within a human being and manifests in every action they take.

Mercy is to see a hungry creature and feed it. To place a vessel of water in front of a soul exhausted by thirst and water it. To protect a cat embracing its young. To help an injured animal if you can. To feel that life is a gift from God to every creature, and that every soul has a right to live in safety.

If you ever look into the eyes of the cats and dogs living in our streets, you will find fear and weakness; you will find souls searching for safety, for a kind hand, for a crumb of bread, and for a drink of water. Every time I see this scene, I remember the saying of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him): "There is a reward for [showing kindness to] any living creature."." Thus, I feel that goodness is closer to us than we imagine, and that mercy could be the reason for God’s satisfaction with a human being.

For this reason, I was very pleased that the state is moving toward regulating this file, and that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi ratified Law No. 29 of 2023 regarding the regulation of ownership of dangerous animals and dogs. I hope this law will be the beginning of a new phase in which awareness prevails, the culture of animal welfare spreads, and every scene carrying cruelty or violence toward these creatures recedes.

The law established a framework regulating the handling of this file and imposed deterrent penalties on violations that threaten society's safety. It also opened the door to solutions based on organization and care, which we hope will be accompanied by the expansion of establishing shelters, vaccination and sterilization programs, and support for veterinarians and civil societies. I hope there will be an amendment to the law by placing deterrent penalties on whoever harms an animal; in developed countries, the punishment ranges between three and five years of imprisonment and a financial fine.. I hope there will be a deterrent punishment in Egypt.

It is well-known that God made all His creatures live in an environmental balance known by Him, the Almighty. In some areas, snakes and rodents appeared after the disappearance of large numbers of cats and dogs, which confirms that maintaining this balance protects humans as well and preserves the environment we live in.

All thanks to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for ratifying the law and for paying attention to this file, which touches upon the values of mercy and humanity. And all thanks to everyone who contributed to bringing this law to light, and to everyone who possesses a merciful heart.