Last updated: 6 November 2026 | Written for Eid ul Adha 2027
Qurbani Easy Editorial Team • Advised by our panel of Islamic scholars
Quick Answer: Yes, feeding fish is a valid form of Sadaqah in Islam, resting on the general hadith basis of kindness to any living being and the reward for provision that benefits animals. It is not, however, supported by any specific hadith as a cure for illness or a way to remove calamity; that belief should be treated as a cultural idea, not an established ruling.
Someone scatters feed into a pond and wonders, is this actually charity in Islam, or just a kind habit with no real basis? The honest answer has two parts: yes, it is genuinely rooted in hadith, but not for every reason people assume. This guide explains exactly what the sources say, and what they don’t.
The Hadith Basis for Feeding Fish as Sadaqah
No hadith names fish specifically, but two well-established, agreed-upon hadiths establish the general principle this practice rests on. The first describes a man who found a thirsty dog and gave it water using his shoe; the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was asked whether there is reward for serving animals, and he replied that there is a reward for serving any living creature, a report narrated by Abu Hurairah and recorded in both Sahih al-Bukhari 2363 and Sahih Muslim. The second states, “There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him,” narrated by Anas ibn Malik and recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 2320 and Sahih Muslim 1553a. Both hadiths are graded Agreed Upon, meaning they appear in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, the two most rigorously verified hadith collections. Neither mentions fish by name, but both establish the same underlying principle: provision that benefits any living creature, including an animal, counts as charity for the person who provided it.
Does This Principle Extend to Deliberately Feeding Fish?
A Hanafi-oriented fatwa addressing this directly concludes that feeding fish this way is permissible, reasoning from the same general principle: kindness to any living being, and provision that benefits an animal, both carry reward regardless of which specific animal is involved (ShariahBoard, via islamqa.org). This is a reasonable extension rather than a stretch: the dog-watering hadith already establishes that the species of animal doesn’t limit the reward, “there is a reward for serving any living creature,” and fish are living creatures like any other. There is no meaningful difference of opinion across schools of thought on this specific point, since it follows from a universally accepted hadith about kindness to creation rather than a contested fiqh category.
The Part That Isn’t Supported: Curing Illness or Removing Calamity
This is where honesty matters more than popularity. Some people feed fish, or give food to animals generally, in the belief that it cures illness or wards off calamity. When this exact claim was put to a scholar, the resulting fatwa stated it is permissible “as mentioned in Ahadith of the Prophet of Allah through which calamities are taken away,” but the fatwa itself does not actually cite a specific hadith for that claim, only the same general kindness-to-animals hadith discussed above (ShariahBoard, via islamqa.org, cited above). In other words, even the source most willing to engage with this belief could not point to a verified hadith establishing it as a cure or calamity-remover. The correct position is to treat the illness-curing or luck-based belief as a cultural idea some people hold, not an established ruling, and to perform the act of feeding fish purely as a Sadaqah for Allah’s sake, which is the only intention the hadith basis actually supports.
What Makes It Count as Valid Sadaqah
First, the intention must be sincere charity for Allah’s sake, not a transaction expecting a specific worldly outcome like a cure or good luck. Second, the food given should be lawful and genuinely suitable for the fish, not harmful waste disposed of under the label of charity. Third, the same fatwa conditions the act on obeying the laws of one’s country, meaning local rules about feeding animals in public water bodies should be respected, not treated as optional because the act is charitable. Fourth, like any Sadaqah, there’s no minimum amount required; the hadith basis rewards the act of kindness itself, not a specific quantity.
How Qurbani Easy Helps
Qurbani Easy’s Feed the Fish service lets you arrange this Sadaqah on your own behalf or in someone else’s name, with a video and confirmation once it’s done. See the Feeding Birds and Fish as Sadaqah guide for how the booking itself works, including adding multiple names, or visit Sadqah in Nature for current options. Booking is open all year, and Qurbani Easy does not accept payment from outside India, though a family member or relative in India can complete it on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a hadith that specifically mentions feeding fish?
No hadith names fish specifically. The basis is the general principle from two agreed-upon hadiths, kindness to any living creature and provision benefiting an animal, both of which apply to fish as living creatures.
Does feeding fish as Sadaqah cure illness or remove bad luck?
This specific claim is not supported by any verified hadith. Even the fatwa most willing to discuss it could not cite a source for the illness-curing or calamity-removing claim, only the general kindness-to-animals hadith. Treat it as a cultural belief, not an established ruling.
Do different schools of thought disagree on whether feeding fish counts as Sadaqah?
No meaningful disagreement exists on this specific point, since it follows directly from a universally accepted, agreed-upon hadith about kindness to living creatures rather than a contested fiqh category like a financial obligation.
Is there a minimum amount of food required for it to count as valid Sadaqah?
No, the hadith basis rewards the act of kindness itself rather than a specific quantity, so there is no minimum amount required for it to count.
Can I feed fish anywhere, or are there conditions?
The food should be lawful and genuinely suitable for the fish, and local laws about feeding animals in public water bodies should be respected rather than ignored because the act is charitable.
What intention should I have when feeding fish as Sadaqah?
Sincere charity for Allah’s sake, not an expectation of a specific worldly outcome such as a cure or good luck, since that outcome-based intention is not what the hadith basis actually supports.
Citation Sources
• Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, Sahih al-Bukhari 2363 (also Sahih Muslim), Agreed Upon — sunnah.com — supports reward for kindness to any living creature.
• Hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik, Sahih al-Bukhari 2320 (also Sahih Muslim 1553a), Agreed Upon — sunnah.com — supports reward for provision benefiting animals.
• ShariahBoard, “Animal Rights” (Hanafi) — islamqa.org — supports the permissibility ruling and conditions; also the source checked for, and found not to support, the illness/calamity claim.