Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam o Alaikum,

What is importance/history of SPIDER (the insect) in Islam?

please reply ASAP.

wassalam 

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Answer:

Significance of Spider

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

There is a Surah in the Glorious Quran by the name of ‘Ankabut’ which means a ‘spider’, and in the Verse where the Surah derives its name, the ‘spider’s’ house or web is only used as a parable to describe the flimsiness of those who take protectors and helpers besides Allah Subhanah! The reality of the expectation that a person who invokes his imaginary deities and ‘gods’ besides Allah is compared to a spider’s web! Just as the slightest interference by a blow of air or even a finger will completely destroy the spider’s carefully built house, so will the expectations of the pagan who puts his trust and belief in such flimsy imaginary deities, who are truly powerless against the Plan and Will of Allah Subhanah, the True Lord and Protector of the Worlds!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 29 Surah Ankabut (The Spider) verse 41:

41 The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the Spider who builds (to itself) a house; but truly the flimsiest of houses is the Spider's house if they but knew!

The other mention of the ‘spider’ in Islamic history is attributed to Hadrat Abu Baqr (r.a.) who said that during the ‘hijrah’ or flight from Makkah to Madina, when the Prophet (saws) and Hadrat Abu Baqr (r.a.) were hiding in the cave from the enemies who were bent on killing them; the enemies of Islam goes so close to entering the cave, that the only thing between their life and impending death was a spider’s web at the entrance of the cave which convinced the pagan Quraish that they were searching in the wrong place.

Your Question: What is importance/history of SPIDER (the insect) in Islam?
The truth is brother, that although there is a mention of a spider, or other animals like horses, camels, cattle, or fruits like pomegranate, bananas, dates, etc. in the Quran and the Sunnah; all these are no more than creations of Allah Subhanah and have no particular significance, importance, or reverence in Islam.

Even if the account related in history regarding the ‘spider’s web’ at the entrance of the cave is to be believed, it is not the spider who should be given any importance or significance, but one should know with conviction that it is Allah Subhanah Alone Who Protects and He uses whoever and whatever amongst His creation to bring His Plan and Will to fruitation.

A spider, like all other insects, is only a creation of Allah and deserves the same respect or importance that is given to any creation of Allah Subhanah. If it is harmful to mankind, there is absolutely no harm or sin in getting rid of it or killing it.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan