Interaksi Nabawi Dengan Haiwan Dalam Konteks Terapi Emosi: Analisis Berdasarkan Fiqh al-Hadīth: The Prophetic Interaction with Animals in the Context of Emotional Therapy: An Analysis Based on Fiqh al-Hadīth - Dzulfaidhi Hakimie Dzulraidi; Mohd Dahlan Abdul Malek; Umar Muhammad Noor; Mohd Solleh Razak (RABBANICA - Journal of Revealed Knowledge, 2025)
Awareness of the emotional therapeutic potential of human-animal interaction is gaining recognition in modern psychology, particularly through approaches such as Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). However, this dimension remains underexplored within the Islamic framework, especially from the perspective of hadith and fiqh al-hadith. Although numerous authentic hadiths record the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ interactions with animals, previous studies have largely focused on their legal or ethical implications, without delving into their psychospritual or emotional healing aspects. This study aims to address this gap by analysing the Prophet’s interactions with animals such as camels, cats, birds, and domesticated creatures as potential sources of emotional tranquillity and spiritual well-being. Adopting a qualitative content analysis approach, the study compiles and interprets relevant hadiths through the lens of fiqh al-hadith. The findings demonstrate that the Prophet’s compassionate and empathetic behaviour towards animals not only reflects moral excellence, but also possesses deep therapeutic value including anxiety reduction, emotional calmness, and strengthened spiritual connection with the Creator. This study suggests that hadith-based therapy models may offer a spiritually grounded alternative for emotional well-being and mental health care in alignment with Islamic values of rahmah (compassion) and ihsan (benevolence). Kesedaran terhadap potensi terapi emosi melalui interaksi dengan haiwan semakin mendapat perhatian dalam bidang psikologi moden, terutamanya melalui pendekatan Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT). Namun begitu, aspek ini masih kurang diterokai dalam kerangka Islam, khususnya daripada perspektif hadith dan fiqh al-hadith. Walaupun terdapat sejumlah hadith sahih yang merakam interaksi Nabi Muhammad SAW dengan haiwan, kebanyakan kajian terdahulu lebih menumpukan kepada dimensi hukum atau akhlak, tanpa menyelami potensi kesan psikospiritual dan terapi emosi yang terhasil daripada interaksi tersebut. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengisi jurang tersebut dengan menganalisis interaksi Nabi SAW terhadap haiwan seperti unta, kucing, burung dan binatang peliharaan lain dalam konteks ketenangan jiwa dan kesejahteraan emosi. Melalui pendekatan kualitatif berbentuk analisis kandungan, kajian ini menghimpunkan dan meneliti hadith-hadith berkaitan serta mentafsirkannya melalui kerangka fiqh al-hadith. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa interaksi Nabawi terhadap haiwan bukan sekadar mencerminkan nilai kasih sayang dan empati, malah membawa implikasi terapeutik yang mendalam termasuk pengurangan keresahan, penghasilan rasa tenang, dan penguatan hubungan spiritual dengan Pencipta. Kajian ini mencadangkan agar pendekatan terapi berasaskan hadith dapat dikembangkan sebagai alternatif Islamik dalam penjagaan kesihatan mental, selari dengan nilai-nilai rahmah dan ihsan yang digariskan oleh Nabi SAW