Kindness to Animals
Islam places great emphasis on kindness and respect for all of Allah’s (sw) creation.
The companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) reached the pinnacle of glory and greatness because they meticulously followed the teachings of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).
Fustat- The Tent City
During the conquest of Egypt, ‘Amr ibn al-As (radiallahu anhu), a Muslim commander, received the go-ahead from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiallahu anhu) to conquer Alexandria.
As he issued the command for his tent to be pulled down, he noticed that a pigeon had laid eggs in a corner of the tent.
He commanded, “Leave the tent standing until the eggs have hatched and young birds can fly away on their own.”
He appointed a person to guard the nest so that no harm would befall the pigeon and her eggs. ‘Amr (radiallahu anhu) himself proceeded to Alexandria and remained engaged there for six months. When Allah granted the Muslims victory, he returned to his original tent and established the city of Al-Fustat close to it.
Fustat means tent in Arabic. Today the city is part of the ‘Old Egypt’ district in Cairo. It would be of interest to note that none of the English encyclopaedias, consulted under the topic of Fostat or Fustat, recorded the incident of ‘Amr ibn al-As (radiallahu anhu) and the pigeon.
This is because orientalists have not studied the Arabic sources of knowledge comprehensively and open-mindedly in the course of their research. It is for this reason that the majority of history books and documentaries compiled by orientalists are incomplete. Arabic and Islamic history has great depth for the seeker of true knowledge.
Kindness to a Dog
Hasan ibn Ali (rahmatullahi alayhi) narrates that he was once passing by a garden in Madinah, when he saw a slave who had a piece of bread in his hand. He would eat a piece from it and feed a piece of it to a dog that was with him. In this way, he and the dog shared the bread equally between them.
Hasan (rahmatullahi alayhi) asked him, “Why have you given half of the bread to the dog? You could have had more of it to eat for yourself by concealing it from the dog.”
The slave replied, “I am too shy to deceive the dog, while looking at it in the eye.”
Hasan (rahmatullahi alayhi) asked him, “Whose slave are you?”
He replied, “I am the slave of Abban ibn Uthman.”
Hasan (rahmatullahi alayhi) enquired, “And who does this garden belong to?”
“ Abban,” the slave answered.
Hasan (rahmatullahi alayhi) said to him, “I request you to wait here until I return.”
He proceeded to the owner and purchased the slave and the garden from him.
When he returned, he said to the slave, “I have purchased you.”
The slave stood up, saying, “I have heard you and obedience is to Allah (Glory be to He, the Most High), His Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and you, my owner.”
Hasan (rahmatullahi alayhi) explained further, “I have freed you from slavery for the pleasure of Allah (Glory be to He, the Most High) and I give this garden to you as a gift.”
The slave remarked, “O my master, I too give the garden away (in charity) in the path of Allah (Glory be to He, the Most High).”
When a man has fear of accountability in the Court of Allah (Glory be to He, the Most High), he will automatically abstain from deception, lies and dishonesty when dealing with every creation of Allah (Glory be to He, the Most High).
Return the chicks
Hadhrat Ibn Mas’ud (radiallahu anhu) narrates, “We were once on a journey with the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). He left us for a short while and a small bird with two chicks, drew our attention. We took away the chicks and when the mother bird returned she began the flutter her wings in uneasiness.
When the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) returned and noticed this, he asked,
‘Who has caused distress to this bird by removing her chicks? Return her chicks to her!’”
Bayazid and the Kitten
Shaikh Bayazid Bustami (rah) was walking once at night time in severe cold. In the dark he saw a kitten shivering in the cold. He took pity on the kitten and brought it home where it was warmed.
After the death of Shaikh Bustami (rah), someone saw him in a dream and asked, How was your dealing after death?
Shaikh Bustami (rah) said, Allah Ta’ala asked him: What have you brought for me?
He ruminated: My deeds are not worthy of presentation, but by grace of Allah, I possess the treasure of Iman in which there could not have been any trait of ostentation (riyal). I should present this to Allah Ta’ala.
He then stated: I have brought Tauheed (upholding the oneness of God).
He was then reminded: Do you remember the night of the milk? The night when you drank milk and attributed the ensuing stomach-pain to the milk, saying that: the milk caused the pain. What! Is this Tauheed? You overlooked Me and attributed the act to the milk whereas I am the true Cause.
Upon this revelation, the Shaikh Bustami trembled in fear. Allah Ta’ala exclaimed: You have now realized the reality of your claim? Now, l will forgive you because of an act which you never dreamt would be the medium of salvation. One night you took pity on a kitten shivering in the cold end gave it comfort. You were merciful to My creature. It is a greater requirement that I be merciful to you. Go, you have been forgiven.
Such is the grace, barakaat and favour of Mustahabat (recommended actions). The ahadith (Prophetic sayings) are replete with such instances such insignificant occurrences which countenanced salvation.