Q: One day, I had a farm. A donkey came and began to eat from it, so I gave it a deadly beat, although I had no intention of killing it, but it died.I also had a donkey that used to harm my neighbors and eat from their farms, which caused disagreement between me and my neighbors. I took it to the mountain and tied it so that it would be eaten by beasts of prey at night. It was indeed eaten.I had a pot of butter, and a cat came and started to eat from it, so I gave it a deadly beat, although I had no intention of killing it, but it died.Please advise concerning what I did to those animals, given that I am (Part No. 26; Page No. 170) sorry for what I did; whenever I remember this, I cry out of fear from Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). Thank you and may Allah reward you.

A: First, you have committed a great mistake by killing the first donkey and the cat, and tying the second donkey so that it would be eaten by beasts of prey, as it entails great injustice to these animals. You should perform Tawbah (repentance to Allah), regret what you did, not do it again, and try to do as many righteous deeds as you can, whether Sadaqah (voluntary charity), Salah (Prayer) or such acts of charity, so that Allah might accept your Tawbah and ours, according to His saying, And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them, (till his death). He also says, And those who invoke not any other ilâh (god) along with Allâh, nor kill such person as Allâh has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse - and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace; Except those who repent and believe (in Islâmic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allâh will change their sins into good deeds, and Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds; then verily, he repents towards Allâh with true repentance. (Part No. 26; Page No. 171)  Second, you should pay the donkey owner its value at the time of its death, or ask him to forgive you. If the owner dies, his heirs will be entitled to that right.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.