Noor Garden“The Man and the Thirsty Dog” – Hadith for Kids
Kindness to animals · Ages 5–11
In this hadith the Prophet ﷺ told the story of a man who gave water to a very thirsty dog, and Allah thanked him and forgave him. It teaches children that Allah loves kindness to animals. Giving water, food or gentle care to any living creature is a good deed that can bring a great reward.
The hadith
فِي كُلِّ كَبِدٍ رَطْبَةٍ أَجْرٌ
(part of a longer hadith)
A thirsty man found a well, drank, then saw a dog panting from thirst. He went back down, filled his shoe with water and gave it to the dog. Allah thanked him and forgave him. The Prophet ﷺ said: "There is a reward for kindness to every living being."
Narrated by: Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 2363; Sahih Muslim 2244
Grade: Sahih (agreed upon)
What it teaches
Allah loves kindness to animals. Even giving water to a thirsty animal can earn Allah's forgiveness.
A little story to help understand it
This is an illustrative example we wrote to explain the meaning. It is not part of the hadith.
On a hot summer day, Nour noticed the birds in her garden hopping around the dry ground. She remembered the man in the hadith who gave water to the thirsty dog. She asked her mother for an old shallow dish, filled it with cool water and put it under a tree. Within minutes, a sparrow came to drink, then another. Nour watched quietly from the window. Every morning that summer she refilled the dish. "Allah sees even this small kindness," her mother told her, and Nour felt her heart fill with joy.
Try it today
Put out some water for birds or a pet, or gently help feed an animal.
Mini quiz
What did the man give the thirsty dog?
- Bread
- Water in his shoe
- Nothing
Show the answer
Answer: Water in his shoe (B)
Questions parents ask
Is this hadith authentic?
Yes. It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 2363; Sahih Muslim 2244. Grade: Sahih (agreed upon). It was narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him). The words shown here are part of a longer hadith.
How can kids practice it?
Put out some water for birds or a pet, or gently help feed an animal. Help care for a pet or put out water for birds, and talk about how animals feel hunger and thirst like us.
What does "every living being" include?
It includes animals of all kinds: pets, birds, cats, and even creatures we don't own. Being gentle, giving water and food, and never hurting animals for fun are ways to earn this reward.
More hadith to learn
Last reviewed: 2026-10-09 · Sources & Method