This is an interesting question. Perhaps it has popped up in the mind among many of you. We often see animals just as pets and as creatures that are created for our benefit or for the purpose of keeping a natural balance on this Earth. But… do they also serve the Almighty Creator? It is important to point out that the truth of this is beyond our knowledge and known to Him alone. Here are some ayat from the Quran that speaks about the relation to Allah…
سورة آل عمران ٨٣
أَفَغَيْرَ دِينِ اللَّهِ يَبْغُونَ وَلَهُ أَسْلَمَ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ
سورة النور ٤١
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالطَّيْرُ صَافَّاتٍ ۖ كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُ وَتَسْبِيحَهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:83
Do they seek for other than the Religion of Allah?-while all creatures in the heavens and on earth have, willing or unwilling, bowed to His Will (Accepted Islam), and to Him shall they all be brought back.
Surah An-Noor 24:41
Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise. And Allah knows well all that they do.
We can further gain an understanding from the following words, as they speak of being guided…
سورة الإسراء ٨٤
قُلْ كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَىٰ شَاكِلَتِهِ فَرَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ هُوَ أَهْدَىٰ سَبِيلًا
Surah Al-Israa 17:84
Say: “Everyone acts according to his own disposition: But your Lord knows best who it is that is best guided on the Way.”
Any creature is not necessarily excluded from the above aya, Keep in mind that we just read that animals follow their own mode of prayer, as Surah An-Noor 24:41 clearly states. A situation that also speaks of animals being held accountable to follow rules is the one where Suliman gathered birds to answer his call…
سورة النمل ٢٠-٢٢
وَتَفَقَّدَ الطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِيَ لَا أَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنَ الْغَائِبِينَ
لَأُعَذِّبَنَّهُ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا أَوْ لَأَذْبَحَنَّهُ أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِّي بِسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ
فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ وَجِئْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ
Surah An-Naml 27:20-22
And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: “Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?
“I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he bring me a clear reason (for absence).”
But the Hoopoe tarried not far: he (came up and) said: “I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true.
We are clearly informed that there would have been consequences if there had not been a good excuse. We have examples of consequences (of actions) and also of prayers… thus it is possible – and I put importance on “possible” – that the trial of life might also be something that relate to races other than humans, since all species were created by Him.
سورة يونس ٦٦
أَلَا إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ
Surah Yunus 10:66
Behold! verily to Allah belong all creatures, in the heavens and on earth.
But in the end, it is extremely important to point out that any of this is not stated as factual knowledge and merely speculation. Allah is the One who knows after all, we can’t judge. We ask His forgiveness for anything wrong, and praise Him for anything that is right.
I hope you found this an inspiring input that brought something to consider.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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