Holy Quran on Animals

As I ponder on the verses of Holy Book Quran, I feel sometimes that there are some obvious facts about a few verses of the Holy Book Quran that even the learned persons in the disciplines related to the Holy Book have omitted. This omission of the obvious becomes evident when the term “DEEN O DUNYA” (Religion & World respectively) is applied commonly in speech & writing as if these both are in difference with each other while actually DEEN (Religion; rather DEEN means the complete code of life that asks to take its guidance in all fields of life) is the criterion for the betterment of both this worldly life and the true coming life. Actual term that ought to be applied in speech and writing is “DUNYA O AKHIRAT” (this world & the coming world where we would have our true eternal life) and the Holy Quran uses this term as such and asks the believers to pray for the betterment of both the lives (Surah Baqarah-201). Likewise, the term “Taskheer” (to put into service) that is used in the Holy Book Quran is applied by some unscholarly persons in the sense that the man has a mission to conquer matter for his service meaning that a man ought to subdue fire, earth, air & water for that is expected of him. Please note that Allah informs us by the term “Taskheer” in the Holy Book Quran that He has put everything in man’s service and so the man has to put all his efforts in keeping his belief true and do accordingly for the worship of Allah, the True Lord (Surah Ibrahim-32,33; Nahal-12; Jathia-13). He might take benefits from these where necessary in the best way possible yet these all in actual by their natural existence, are already in the service to the Man. What is already done is not needed to be done while the true aim of life is to remain totally attentive towards Allah only by the Belief and by all deeds according to that Belief (see Surah ZARIAAT-56). Again, a lot of explanation is provided for the uncovering of feet by MALIKAH Saba (the Queen of Sheba), when Suleiman-AS made a path of glass for her to walk and she thought it to be a pond of water (see Surah NAML-44). Please note the point that Suleiman had understood that the queen was just making a bluff when she said

that she and her people had submitted to Allah and so he wanted to convey by the glass to her that as this is a barrier to the clean water beneath it, you also have some hindrance in accepting true faith so without causing her an embarrassment, he wanted her to know that he has detected her deception. He had already assessed her intelligence by bringing her throne at his place and asking about it to her. She was wise to answer that “it is just like that” so as not to embarrass Suleiman, without answering wrongly. Now, she read the indication Suleiman had made to her by this path of glass totally well and without any diplomacy or deception, accepted Islam truly by heart clarifying that it is just like the acceptance of Suleiman, at least for herself. A point to note is that the Holy Quran sets a standard for judgment of the True Belief that it must be in accordance with the Belief of persons well known in righteousness (see Surah Baqarah-137; Surah Nisa-115). Another point to note in this regard is that when the Holy Quran tells something twice, there is some delicate difference in both in nature. In the narration of creation of Adam in Surah Baqarah, we find that Allah gave Adam & Eve the command to descend to Earth twice, first before He granted mercy to Adam & Eve and second after His mercy. So the character of this same command is different as at the first, it was given as a punishment while at the second, it was given to examine human beings whether they really deserve JANNAH or not (see Surah Baqarah-35 to 39) as is clear even by a simple translation. In Surah ANFAAL-52, 53 & 54, we find that there is the mention of Pharaoh two times and that indicates two of the Pharaoh though for this, in this writing, I would leave the detail. If one keeps these two points in consideration in this narration of the queen of Saba i.e. standard of judgment and the delicate difference in something told twice in the Holy Book Quran, the matter becomes totally clear. Another matter of interest that is overlooked, is that the Holy Quran points out a similarity between human beings and the earth. This too is often missed; this tells us that Allah would awaken all persons on the day of judgment as He gives life to a dead piece of land by a rainfall (see Surah Baqarah-164; Surah Aaraf-57; Surah Younus-24). Today we know that the earth has just above two-

third water and nearly one-third dry land and the interesting thing is that the human body too has the same ratio of water in its composition and so the example given for awakening is very understandable. The Holy Quran noted the similarity centuries back when there was no inkling of this division of the Earth; Al-Hamdu Lillah. There are other interesting points of guidance too that the Holy Quran points out to us and that are not given due attention, as for example, the AAYAH “Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous. Those who spend, whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon men, for Allah loves those who do good” (Surah Aal-e-Imran-133,134). This tells Muslims that contest in worldly matters is not appreciable as clarified at Surah QASAS-76 & 77 in the narrative of QARUN too when the good people guided him to take only what is rightly due to him from the worldly possessions and give much from his possessions to the needy taking up this good charity-work. The contest for a better position in AKHIRAT only is appreciable so the message is to give whatever you can in this world and take whatever you can in the next. Another AAYAH of the Holy Book Quran tells us, “And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to destruction; but do good; for Allah loves those who do good” (Surah Baqarah-195). This asks Muslims to avoid all type of dangerous things and situations (save Jihad) by their own choice as many such people do who love such sports as rash car racing, motor cycle stunts and other such things. This type of adventure that has a very high probability for danger to physique by choice is prohibited by Islam; all those who call themselves Muslims must spend their wealth, their time and their qualities that might bring all the people to the betterment only, in the way of Allah. I have written about these in my writings by the blessing of Allah yet there is another very interesting thing that I have observed in the Holy Book Quran; at-least it seems to me this way; that relates to its narration about animals. This I have not addressed before and presently, I am writing here about that insha Allah (by the will of

Allah) with an intention to guide towards Knowledge for the betterment of self by understanding of the Holy Book Quran; Al-Hamdu Lillah.

The point to note is that wherever birds or animals are mentioned specifically in the Holy Quran, they present some miraculous performance, mostly in service to Human Beings. This is a very interesting phenomenon and does show that Allah is fully capable to take His work from even birds & animals as He wills and this also provides for a clear observation to all who need Guidance towards Allah. Even ordinary Muslims are fully aware of the incident of Birds that came as ABA-BIL (in bulk) that happened just before the birth of the Last Prophet Muhammad PBUH, just a year or two before he was born when the ruler of Yemen ABRAHATH attacked Mecca. These small birds coming as ABA-BIL threw small pebbles held in their beaks at this time miraculously upon those challengers, specially their war-elephant that amazingly turned against its own army at this sudden and unexpected attack from the air. Mecca remained safe from this powerful attack due to this extraordinary event and Surah Feel-whole of it, narrates this event clearly. So it is interesting to note that wherever birds or animals are mentioned specifically, they seem to perform some service to Human Beings that asks appreciation of the Power of the True Lord Allah. Let us observe the tasks that were performed by birds and animals other than this incident too, as mentioned in the Holy Book Quran, but please note that I am not trying to go for perfection in pointing out these tasks and would remark here that it would be better if this same study is also taken-up by those who are well-versed in many disciplines that relate to the Holy Book Quran; that would insha-Allah rectify the lapse, if any, that I might have committed here without any intention as such.

1- In Surah NAML we read “And Suleiman’s army of the jinn and the men and the birds were gathered to him, and they were formed into groups. Until when they came to the valley of the NAML (Ant),

an Ant said: O NAML! Enter your houses, (that) Suleiman and his hosts may not crush you while they do not know. So he smiled enjoying her word, and said: My Lord! Grant in my fortune that I should be grateful for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I should do good such as Thou art pleased with, and make me enter, by Thy mercy, into Thy servants, the good ones. And he reviewed the birds, then said: How is it I see not the hoopoe or is it that he is of the absentees? 1 will most certainly punish him with a severe punishment, or slaughter him, or he shall bring to me a clear plea. And the bird came without much delay, then said: I comprehend that which you do not comprehend and I have brought to you sure information from Sheba” (Surah NAML-17 to 22). Here NAML (Ant) talks to her companions and she is also heard by Suleiman-AS and here, HUD-HUD (Hoopoe–a bird in family of wood-peckers), brings an information that is something not known even to Suleiman. The next AAYAH tells us that he had brought information about the area of SABA (Sheba) that there a queen was ruling and they had belief in Sun worshipping it, leaving the True Lord Allah. So Animals are doing a strange service to their own species and to human beings who have mastery over them. This same Surah has the AAYAH “And when the Word falls upon them, we would bring out an animal out of Earth that would talk to them as people did not believe truly our indications” (Surah NAML-82). It is said in TAFSIR (commentary made by learned persons on the Quran) of this AAYAH that an animal would appear in Makkah near the Day of Judgment (and this nearing of Judgment is referred to as the Word here) that would tell people that QAYAMAT (the Last-Day of the world) is near and this animal is one of the signs of the Day. At its appearance, the door of TAUBAH (repentance) would be closed for all according to Ahadith as it is very near to the time of death for all living creatures then, just as near the death of an individual when he sees it coming clearly, door of repentance is closed for him totally.

2- Surah Baqarah tells us that IBRAHIM-AS asked Allah for some demonstration to clarify how would He give life again to dead and at

this, birds became the means to clarify this. It is said “and when IBRAHIM asked O my Creator! Show me how would you give life to dead and He replied, Don’t you believe? He said, for sure yet I ask for more satisfaction of my heart. Allah said, take four birds and train them for yourself then place on every hill a part of them, then call them, they will come to you in haste; and know that Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise” (Surah Baqara-260). The previous AAYAH to this tells of the man who passed on an ass on a destroyed city and wondered how this would rise. Allah put him to sleep for hundred years and then gave him life and also gave life again to his ass in front of his eyes (see Surah Baqarah-259). In this same Surah, we learn that in Bani-Israel, a man was murdered and it became quite a concern for them. They wanted to know the murderer and could not locate him so they were ordered to slaughter a cow which they did after much to-do (and by this incident, this Surah takes its name) and then to touch a part of it to the murdered person who rose to life and told the murderer’s name and died again. The AAYAAH tell us “And when you killed a man, then you disagreed with respect to that, and Allah was to bring forth that which you were going to hide. So We said: Strike (dead body) with part of it (the sacrificed cow), thus Allah brings the dead to life, and He shows you His signs so that you may understand” (Surah Baqarah-72,73).

3- The Prophet SWALEH-AS was sent towards his people who were called THAMOOD and they were masters in architecture making buildings by carving mountains. These people were shown the sign of Allah when a she-camel came out from a mount on their own demand yet they did not believe and killed the she-camel, putting a great disaster to themselves. It is said in the Holy Book “And to Thamood (We sent) their brother SWALEH. He said: 0 my people! Serve Allah, you have no true lord other than Him; clear proof indeed has come to you from your True Lord; this is Allah's she-camel for you - a sign, therefore leave her alone to pasture on Allah's earth, and do not touch her with any harm, otherwise painful chastisement will overtake you” (Surah Aaraf-73).

4- Surah MAI’DAH tells us that when two sons of Adam gave sacrifice in the name of Allah, the sacrifice of one was accepted (and scholars of Islam tell us that his name was HAABIL; he is also known as ABEL) while the sacrifice of other was rejected (and his name is told as QAABIL; he is also known as CAIN). Now, QAABIL told HAABIL that he would kill him and at this HAABIL said if you try to do so, I would not try to kill you as I fear Allah. With time, he got obsessed with this idea of murder and did kill his brother HAABIL. After the narration of this incident briefly, an AAYAH tells us that he was taught by a crow how to dispose off the dead body of his brother. The AAYAH says, “Then Allah sent a crow who scratched the ground so as to show him how to hide the dead body of his brother. He said - Woe to me! Was I not even able to become like this crow so that I could hide the body of my brother – so he became one of regretful” (Surah Mai’da-31). This regret was at his stupidity about being unable to hide the dead body and it is not repentance on the act of murder he committed. Note that this same Surah tells us in Ayat-110 that when Jesus Christ-AS made a bird’s figure by Allah’s permission, and breathed into it, it came to life becoming a true bird by Allah’s permission.

5- In Surah SAAFFAAT, we learn that YOUNUS (Jonah) - AS, was swallowed alive by a big fish (it might be a whale; as it also lives in water with all fish) by Allah’s Command and when Allah answered his prayer for forgiveness, that Fish threw him on a ground by the command of Allah (see Surah Saaffaat-139 to 148). YOUNUS is called “One related to Fish” in Surah Anbia-87 and this Surah i.e. Surah ANBIA also tells us that mountains and birds used to praise Allah with DAWUD - AS (see Surah Anbia-79). We know well as the Holy Book Quran tells us that his son Suleiman - AS understood birds and they used to serve him according to his requirement as I have indicated in the first point in this writing.

6- Surah KAHAF, the Surah that one must read much and

understand (specially on Fridays according to Ahadith) to save oneself from the dread of DAJJAL (Antichrist), tells us about a dog in AAYAH-18 that became companion to ASHAB-e-KAHAF (the persons related to cave), who took refuge in a cave to save their Belief. They were seven persons whom Allah put to sleep in the cave from about 250 A.D. to about 440 A.D. (195 years by the Lunar Calendar; this has been indicated by SINEEN-ADDADA at Surah KAHAF-11, the letters of which add up to 195 by ABJAD) when they ran away from the cruel reign of Daqianus (Decius) from the city of Afsos (Ephesus) and awoke in the era of Theodosius, when people had turned to Christianity though only as had been taught by Paul which has major faults, yet that caused at-least no suppression of the True Belief these ASHAB had. The dog came along with them and it clearly was a fierce vicious dog that slept with them at the opening of the cave, with its front legs spread as if on guard. As the ASHAB slept inside, no one dared to come inside as any passer-by would have concluded by the scene that there is a company of some dangerous persons inside with this deadly dog at guard so would have preferred running away. Allah tells us in the AAYAH “And you would have thought them awake while they were asleep; and We turned them on their right and on their left sides; and their dog stretching forth both his fore legs at the entrance. Had you peeked at them, you would have certainly turned back escaping away, and would have certainly filled with a terror of them” (Surah Kahaf-18). In this way, they remained safe from sores due to sleep for such quantity of time (safety from inside) and they were safe from any adverse intrusion too (safety from outside). Note that Surah KAHAF specially teaches to avoid worldly beauty and commitment to this earthly life in the period of FITNAH (Trial) so that the True Belief remains safe. The narration of ASHAB-e-KAHAF and other historical events that are told in this Surah, give this message loud & clear and that is why, Ahadith ask to read and understand this Surah well in the times of DAJJAL, which is one of the biggest FTNAH of all times and places. This same Surah tells us that when MUSA (Moses)-AS was ordered to meet KHIDHAR-AS at the place where two rivers blend, a fish with them was made

an indication of the place of meeting. That fish made its way at the meeting place and MUSA returned to that place when he became aware of its going away, as his servant (said to be JOSHUA-AS) forgot to tell him this incident he had witnessed then. There he found KHIDHAR whom he was ordered to meet and this incident clearly denotes that the complete Truth can not be understood only with physical abilities a person has but it actually needs the spiritual strength much more than the physical power.

These points shed light well on the matter that the mention of specific animals and birds in the Holy Book Quran has an extraordinary touch as they have to perform some sort of service for the human beings by the permission of Allah providing them some sort of sign to accept that Allah is the Only True Lord. The Holy Book Quran does refer to the fact that domestic animals are given in our service as we use them as our food and for transportation yet it does seem that the miraculous mention of birds and animals here does ask us to care for the Commands of Allah only in all fields of the life totally without fail; Al-Hamdu Lillah.

Written by:Muhammad Saleem Dada(27th Nov.2009)sdada111@yahoo.com

www.saleemdada.weebly.com

an indication of the place of meeting. That fish made its way at the meeting place and MUSA returned to that place when he became aware of its going away, as his servant (said to be JOSHUA-AS) forgot to tell him this incident he had witnessed then. There he found KHIDHAR whom he was ordered to meet and this incident clearly denotes that the complete Truth can not be understood only with physical abilities a person has but it actually needs the spiritual strength much more than the physical power.

These points shed light well on the matter that the mention of specific animals and birds in the Holy Book Quran has an extraordinary touch as they have to perform some sort of service for the human beings by the permission of Allah providing them some sort of sign to accept that Allah is the Only True Lord. The Holy Book Quran does refer to the fact that domestic animals are given in our service as we use them as our food and for transportation yet it does seem that the miraculous mention of birds and animals here does ask us to care for the Commands of Allah only in all fields of the life totally without fail; Al-Hamdu Lillah.

Written by:Muhammad Saleem Dada(27th Nov.2009)sdada111@yahoo.com

www.saleemdada.weebly.com