The news accounts of Francis’ remarks were welcomed by groups like the Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who saw them as a repudiation of conservative Roman Catholic theology that says animals cannot go to heaven because they have no souls….

Numerous studies in Spiritual Psychology … shows that dogs do indeed have souls, and once a dog bonds to a human, its soul attaches to the human’s soul and upon death, goes where the human soul goes. They imply that animals may have the “breath of life,” but not an immortal soul in the same sense as man’s.

Bugs have no spiritual component that could ascend to heaven without their bodies. The debate about whether animals do is ongoing. I believe the official Vatican position is still that they don’t, but many would like exemptions for dogs, cats, bunnies, hamsters, and other beloved household pets.

Islam offers no clear answer. In Islam all souls are eternal, including those of animals. But in order to get to heaven, or Jannah, beings must be judged by God on Judgment Day, and some Muslim scholars say animals are not judged as humans are….

Dogs in Islam, as they are in Rabbinic Judaism, are conventionally thought of as ritually impure. This idea taps into a long tradition that considers even the mere sight of a dog during prayer to have the power to nullify a pious Muslim’s supplications….

Restriction of dogs in the home is based on the badith which says: “Angels do not enter a house which has a dog or picture in it.” This is accepted by the majority of Muslims to bar owning a dog as an indoor pet, but it does not rule out owning dogs for protection or hunting.

In Islamic tradition, cats are admired for their cleanliness. They are thought to be ritually clean, and are thus allowed to enter homes and even mosques, including Masjid al-Haram. But if the cats are ordinary cats and are not causing a nuisance, perhaps it is better to leave them alone to reproduce.

Additionally, they fear iron, generally appear in desolate or abandoned places, and are stronger and faster than humans. Since the jinn share the earth with humans, Muslims are often cautious not to accidentally hurt an innocent jinn by uttering “destur” (permission), before sprinkling hot water.

“The djinns are attracted to the fragrance of jasmine and if they smelled it on an unmarried girl they could become her ashiq, possessive lover. This would ruin their chances of getting married to a human being.”…

Forbidden (haram) is also the meat of domesticated donkeys, mules, any predatory animal with canine teeth and birds with talons.

For those who aren’t aware, tattoos are considered haram (forbidden) in Islam. There is no specific Islamic verse outlining this point but many people believe wudu (the purification ritual) cannot be completed if you have a tattoo on your body. Hence, you can never pray….