Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 254
254 is in advance of the ideas of some of the so-called civilized nations of the twentieth century. Only recently the pastime of shooting tame pigeons, which was in- dulged in some of the Western countries, had to be prohibited by law. Similarly, it is related that the Holy Prophet sa once saw a donkey which had been branded on the head. He was very displeased and forbade the branding of animals on the head, as that must be very painful and said that in future animals should be branded on the leg. On another occasion he saw somebody who had caught the young ones of a dove. He told them to set them free and not to torture the mother. At another time he said, 'God takes pity on a man who pities animals and feeds them and gives them drink. ' Another duty of a Muslim is not to endanger the lives and safety of others. For instance, the Holy Proph- et sa has prohibited people of an infected area from going outside that area, and people from other areas from entering an infected area. This injunction anticipated by a matter of centuries quarantine regulations and other similar measures, which are supposed to be the result of the wisdom gained from modern science and research. Another duty of a Muslim is to help his friends and neighbours in need by loans of money, etc. , but he may not in such a case stipulate for any return for the use of that which is loaned. A Muslim should have wide sympathies and a generous disposition, and should regard it as a duty to render assistance to his less fortu- nate brethren. He should earn his living by work and