Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 480
Malf uza t - English translation of Urdu Volume 9 480 was returning with the bread, a dog began to follow him. He thought that perhaps there was a share of the bread for the dog, so he threw a piece to the dog and carried on. The dog devoured this piece quickly and began to follow him again. Then the new Muslim thought that perhaps half the share of the bread is for the dog, so he threw another piece to the dog, but the dog ate it also and again started following him. When he saw that the dog was not leaving him, he thought perhaps three pieces were for it and one was for him. Thus, he gave another piece to it, but the dog still did not leave after eating that piece. Upon this, he became infuriated with the dog and said, ‘You are so ill-bred. I was the one that begged and brought four pieces of bread, but even after eating three of them, you are not leaving me. ’ At that moment, God endowed the dog the ability to speak. The dog responded, ‘I am not ill-bred. No matter how starved I am, I do not go to any other home besides my master’s. You are the one who is ill-bred, who went to beg from a disbeliever experiencing slight pangs of hunger. ’ Hearing this response, that Muslim became extremely remorseful of his condition. Similarly, there was a cat in Gurdaspur. Whatever might be around, the cat would not eat it without permission. Once some individuals said to the owner of the cat that they wished to carry out an experiment. Thus, they put h alw a , milk, pieces of meat, etc. near the cat and locked the room. When they looked after three days, the cat had died, and the food was still there and untouched. If even the noble traits of common animals are not found in man, then what good is he capable of ? 1 1. Al- H akam , vol. 11 , no. 36, p. 10 , 11 & 14 , dated 10 October 1907. See also Badr , vol. 6, no. 42, p. 8 –10, dated 17 October 1907