(370) Chapter: Ahadith about Dajjal and Portents of the Hour

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who kills a chameleon at the first blow, such and such number of good deeds will be awarded to him; whoever kills it at the second blow, such and such number of merits will be recorded for him. And if he kills it at the third blow, he will get such and such merits." Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "If anyone kills a chameleon with the first blow, a hundred good deeds will be recorded for him; less than that will be recorded for him if he kills it at the second blow, and still less rewards will be recorded for him if he kills it at the third blow." [Muslim]. Commentary: Here, it is mentioned that the killing of a chameleon in one stroke is very commendable. Similar is the case of killing of other harmful insects and reptiles such as scorpions, and snakes. This shows that even a slight help in good or bad actions will be counted and rewarded or punished as the case may be. The matter of quantity is not so important, but the real thing is the intention and real motive. It could be that the chameleon did, in fact, blew fire on Ibrahim; or it could be that it simply refers to the chameleon's harmful nature to human beings. Allah knows better.