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alive. A good deed done to a beast is as well as doing good to a human being; while an
act of cruelty to a beast is as bad as an act of cruelty to a human being. Kindness to
animals was promised by rewards in the Hereafter.” [A Haadith]
The man apologized and turned his face down out of shame. Nevertheless, he told his
matter, and Waali’s grandfather and the mysterious rider disappeared in the wilderness
while we made camp.
Waali was about to enter the circle he had made on the ground to mark the place he was
about to worship Allah when his grandfather reappeared from the veils of the night. He
approached, extinguished the small fire, and dragged Waali by the sleeve out of the
tracks. Then he said:
“Come take care of the animals before you put up for the night.”
Waali protested because he was cold, hungry and tired. He was not used to long journeys
on camels’ back and his bones hurt! He asked angrily:
“Why do you prevent me from even performing my prayers?”
“The companions of the prophet, peace be upon him, used to delay even saying their
prayers until they had first given their riding and pack animals fodder and had attended to
their needs. They carry us all day and stand us without complaint; don’t you think you
should be grateful to them for that?”
Waali looked straight and asked more kindly:
“We are all bound to make mistakes. It is a good think you told me about that! But
why did you stop my fire from going and pushed me away like you did?”
The wise man replied:
“We do not pitch our tents for the night on the beaten tracks, for they are the pathways
of nocturnal creatures, and where you built your fire, there was a column of ants who
would have been hurt because of your ignorance. Our beloved Prophet, peace be upon
him, used to forbid hurting or causing discomfort to any animal, as insignificant it might
be. It’s because a good deed done to a beast is as good as doing good to a human being;
while an act of cruelty to a beast is as bad as an act of cruelty to human beings. So, to
give water to your beasts when they need it may be the cause for you to enter Paradise; to
neglect and be cruel to animals may cause you to enter Hell.” [A haadith]
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Waali thought for a moment about the wisdom of what the man had just said and went
back to his steps to see if what his grandfather had said was right. True enough there
were silver ants looking for water all over the tracks and their backs were shining under
the aura of the moon.
The ecosystem of the desert is so fragile, thought Waali, any disruption could destroy
what is already left. Deserts are often the result of abuses against the land and neglect. If
men had been more careful and had followed Allah’s commands, the earth would look
differently by now.
I almost followed myself in the habits of those who commit injustice on earth. It is so
easy to become inconsiderate: Astaghfirullah, Astarfighullah, astarfighullah -- Allah,
forgive me..
I came near him and, putting my hand in his shoulder, I reassured him:
"Everybody is but a student on this earth. If you did not make mistakes, as you told
me once, your God would destroy you and create another people who would make
mistakes and ask for forgiveness."
Waali turned his dark eyes towards me and smiled.
You are right my friends.
The camels were waiting for us.
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