The Islamic Civilization by Mustafa Siba'i

Author:Mustafa Siba'i [Siba'i, Mustafa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Claritas Books
Published: 2018-10-04T18:30:00+00:00

When we were in power, forgiveness was our known habit.

But when you came to rule you shed rivers of (much) blood.

This difference between the two of us is not at all amazing.

Since whatever are the contents of a vessel spill out of it.

CHAPTER SEVEN

compassion and kindness to animals

This is really a strange topic of discourse to be included within the topic of glory of Islamic Civilization, although in this age and time it may not have much novelty. Humanity could not imagine until recently that animals could also be deserving of mercy and justice. Even today nations kill animals as a recreation on the occasion of sport, celebrations and festivals. However, in this field as well, Islamic Civilization presents itself as a messenger of human consciousness and is unlike any other past or present civilization when it comes to the kind treatment and mercy of animals. This has been so outstanding that it cannot be overlooked and it will amaze and fascinate everyone.

The principles of Islamic Civilization declared that the animal world was one in its own right, just like that of the human world, with its own characteristics, temperaments and feelings. The Quran says, There is not an animal [that lives] on earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but [forms part] of communities like you (Quran, 6:38). Since they are a community like man, they too deserve mercy and affection. The Prophet said, “The Merciful showers mercy on those who are themselves merciful.” (Narrated by Aḥmad.) He also said, “One who has been endowed with a gentle nature has received a portion of the goodness of this world and the next.” (Narrated by Aḥmad.)

Kindness to animals may at times become the means by which one is rewarded with Paradise. The Prophet is reported to have said, “A person was going his way when he felt very thirsty. He came upon a well. He went down the well and quenched his thirst. On coming up he saw a dog panting and witnessed its extreme thirst as it licked the moist earth around the well. He thought to himself that the dog was also dying of thirst just as he had been. So he went down the well once again and filled one of his leather stockings with water and held it with his teeth. When he came up he offered that water to the dog. Allah looked with favor on this act of kindness and forgave him his sins.” Someone from the audience asked him, “O Messenger of Allah! Will we be rewarded for kindness to animals also?” He replied, “You will be rewarded for kind treatment of all those having a liver [living] and subsisting on fodder [feed of some sort].” (Narrated by Bukhārī and Muslim.)

In fact, cruelty to animals can place a person in Hell. “A certain woman entered Hell due to a cat that she kept tied in her house, neither feeding it nor freeing it to seek its food among the vermin of the earth.

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