Kalb (term) - Views Regarding Particular Animals

Views Regarding Particular Animals

Certain animals in Islamic traditions are mentioned or have a particular view attached to them:

• Bats: In Shiite hadith, bats are praised as a miracle of nature.
• Birds: Birds are commonly revered in Islamic literature, especially in Sufi tradition where they are a metaphor for the soul's divine journey to God, such as in The Conference of the Birds. In the Shi'a book of the sayings of Ali, Nahj al-Balagha, an entire sermon is dedicated to praising peacocks.
• Camels: Muhammad's camel, Qaswa, was very dear to him. Muhammad is reported as having reprimanded some men who were sitting idly on their camels in a marketplace, saying "either ride them or leave them alone".
• Cats: Muhammad is said to have loved his cat Muezza so much that "he would do without his cloak rather than disturb one that was sleeping on it."
• Dogs: see below.
• Pigs: Pork is Haraam, or not permissible to eat. One reason for this is that pigs are omnivorous, not herbivorous.
• Sheep: Muhammad prided himself in being part of a rich tradition of prophets who found their means of livelihood as being shepherds.
• Snakes: Snakes are considered to represent viciousness.