Zoonotic Diseases, Animal–Human Interaction, and Public Health: An Islamic Ethical and Jurisprudential Analysis in the Context of Pakistan

Abstract

Zoonotic diseases represent a persistent and multifaceted public health challenge in Pakistan, arising from close and continuous interaction between humans and animals through livestock farming, urban stray animal populations, and domestic companion animal ownership. Despite increasing biomedical research on zoonoses such as rabies, brucellosis, echinococcosis, giardiasis, and cryptosporidiosis, effective disease control remains limited due to weak veterinary infrastructure, poor sanitation, and low public compliance with preventive measures. In a society where religious values significantly shape social behavior, neglecting Islamic ethical frameworks in public health discourse reduces policy effectiveness. This study examines zoonotic disease prevention through Qurʾānic teachings, Prophetic traditions, and classical Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), contextualized within Pakistan’s contemporary public health environment. Using qualitative textual analysis and interdisciplinary review, the study identifies core Islamic principles—including khilāfah (stewardship), ḥifẓ al-nafs (preservation of life), darʾ al- mafāsid (prevention of harm), and maṣlaḥah (public interest)—as normative foundations for zoonotic disease prevention. The findings demonstrate that Islam not only permits but obligates preventive health interventions, including animal welfare regulation and state-led disease control, offering a culturally grounded framework for improving public health outcomes in Pakistan.