Fauna in Islam

ANIMALS AND OTHERNESS IN MAMLUK EGYPT AND SYRIA
Yehoshua FRENKEL
University of Haifa

It was believed that the universe is inhabited not only by human beings but also
by mysterious creatures

獻祭使關係穩固，神＆人，人＆窮人。
the Festival of the Sacrifice (or the Greater ‘Īd; namely ‘Īd al-Adhā), is perceived as a ritual that cements the relationships between Muslims and God

動物慈善
Our survey of the ties between man and animal should also analyze the compassionate approach towards animals. This can be deduced from several pious endowments (awqāf) that were established during the Mamluk period. The deeds of these charities contain provisions concerning the care and nourishment of animals. 23 Edward William Lane reports in his account of Egypt in the early nineteenth century that the Chief Judge of Egypt in 1835 told him that the Mamluk Sultan alẒāhir Baybars established a pious endowment to provide food for stray cats. If the endowment was not producing enough revenue, the judge would contribute capital from his own funds. The Ottoman amīr Kutkhuda, for example, established in Egypt a pious endowment to distribute food each day to stray dogs and cats. Lane adds that the Egyptians show great respect to birds.24

23 Benjamin Arbel, “The Attitude of Orientals to Animals in Renaissance Eyes,” in Human Beings and Other Animals in Historical Perspective, eds. Benjamin Arbel, Joseph Terkel and Sophia Menache (Jerusalem: Carmel, 2007), 277–292 [in Hebrew]; id., “The Attitude of Muslims to Animals: Renaissance Perceptions and Beyond,” in Animals and People, 57–74. 24 Edward William Lane, Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians written in Egypt during the years 1833–35 (London: John Murray, 1860), 287 and 290.

動物或說話、帶訊息
The idea that man can take lessons from animals, or that beasts can play the role of a model was grounded in the perception of potential verbal communication between man and fauna. This belief derives from the Qur’ān. Several verses in the Holy Book (27:15–17) describe the gathering of animals in front of King Solomon. Muslim exegetes used these verses to elaborate on Solomon’s communication with animals and birds. Stories collected in the popular Islamic genre of ‘Legends of the Prophets’ tell that the angels taught Solomon all the languages of animals. 61 Ibn Kathīr, who lived in Mamluk Damascus, narrates that Allah blessed Solomon with many abilities, including the power to command the winds, to understand the language of the birds and to talk with animals. It was said that the Muslim scholar who could decipher the ancient book that King Solomon had composed would be able to understand the languages of animals and birds.62 Another example of this belief in verbal communication between animals and men can be traced in stories about animals that prophesied the birth of the prophet Muhammad and communicated in human tongues. 63 Stories about speaking animals are particularly observable in popular and wisdom writings, likewise in chronicles.64

61 Jan Knappert, Islamic Legends: Histories of the heroes, saints, and prophets of Islam (Leiden: Brill, 1985), 1: 130. 62 Ibid., 1: 4. 63 Ibid., 1: 11. 64 On a bird that said ‘O God help the emir Bakjam,’ see Ibn 昌ijji al-Dimashqī, Ta’rīkh ibn 巾ijji, 744, 756.