Beating cows without a reason

A: It is not permissible to beat cattle without a reason, as it entails harm and torture to it, whereas Allah (Exalted be He) says, ...and do good. Truly, Allâh loves Al-Muhsinûn (the good-doers). It was mentioned in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim), that Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) (Part No. 26; Page No. 155) passed by some boys of Quraysh while they were using a bird as a target, and they gave the bird owner every arrow that missed. When they saw Ibn `Umar they ran away. Ibn `Umar said, "Who did that? May Allah curse him who did that, for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed a person who uses an animate creature as a target." It was also reported on the authority of Ibn `Umar in the two Sahih Books of Hadith that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, A woman was destined to torture (in Hellfire) because of a cat which she confined until it died (of hunger); she did not provide it with food and drink as it was confined, nor did she free it so that it might eat the insects of the earth. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.