"There is no creature that crawls upon the earth, nor bird that flies upon its wings, but that they are communities like yourselves - We have neglected nothing in the Book - and they shall be gathered unto their Lord in the end."
Quran 6:38
We have visited the sixth surah, al-An'am, "The Cattle," before. This particular passage is interesting for many reasons, especially the notion that, quoting Nasr, "nonhuman creatures have a relationship with God that is in some ways analogous to that of human beings." (p. 352) So, animals have their own communities - or ummah. If this is true, Nasr proposes, then, "If all creatures enjoy such a relationship with their Creator and were created to praise Him, then it cannot be assumed that human beings along enjoy the right to ethical treatment and consideration in His religion." Islam has a very strong ecological streak, and this also includes the notion of treating animals kindly and respectfully. On one of the spirit possession ceremonies in Zanzibar a chicken was killed during the performance, and afterwards the participants gathered around the body to pray. The chicken had died inappropriately and with no prayer said before to mark its passing, so you could see the genuine distress in the manner of their response.
Quran 6:38
We have visited the sixth surah, al-An'am, "The Cattle," before. This particular passage is interesting for many reasons, especially the notion that, quoting Nasr, "nonhuman creatures have a relationship with God that is in some ways analogous to that of human beings." (p. 352) So, animals have their own communities - or ummah. If this is true, Nasr proposes, then, "If all creatures enjoy such a relationship with their Creator and were created to praise Him, then it cannot be assumed that human beings along enjoy the right to ethical treatment and consideration in His religion." Islam has a very strong ecological streak, and this also includes the notion of treating animals kindly and respectfully. On one of the spirit possession ceremonies in Zanzibar a chicken was killed during the performance, and afterwards the participants gathered around the body to pray. The chicken had died inappropriately and with no prayer said before to mark its passing, so you could see the genuine distress in the manner of their response.
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