FatwaFederal TerritoriesFunerals & Death
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-901: HUKUM MENYIMPAN ABU HAIWAN PELIHARAAN
Is it permissible to cremate a deceased pet and keep its ashes as a keepsake?
Short answer
Keeping a pet's ashes is forbidden because it resembles the practices and beliefs of other religions.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Funerals & Death
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Keeping a pet's ashes is forbidden because it resembles the practices and beliefs of other religions. The ashes from an animal carcass are also ruled impure, since a carcass does not become pure through burning or transformation (istihalah). Keeping ashes as a memento does not meet the level of urgent necessity. Muslims are encouraged to treat animals with kindness, including by burying a deceased pet in a suitable and safe place in line with Islamic law.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Hukum menyimpan abu haiwan peliharaan adalah haram kerana perbuatan tersebut menyerupai amalan serta kepercayaan agama lain.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-901: HUKUM MENYIMPAN ABU HAIWAN PELIHARAAN”, 26 May 2025. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/6247-irsyad-hukum-siri-ke-901-hukum-menyimpan-abu-haiwan-peliharaan. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-keeping-pet-ashes-as-keepsake/