It is agreed among historians that the dog played an important role in the founding of civilization. Nomadic people kept dogs as a helper: watch dogs protected the tribe as it slept at night, from wolves, bears, wild cats and the like. They would help in the hunt by using their keen scent to track animals of prey, or perhaps to seek a lost tribe member. To the nomadic peoples who first domesticated the dog, a descendant and relative of the wolf, these animals were important and useful. They were given a high status in these tribal societies, in fact they were considered as a member of the tribe.
Eventually, the wandering tribe would come upon a settlement of thatched huts, inhabited by hunter gatherers who knew about basic agriculture and simple farming. They harvested grains and kept these in baskets or vessels of clay. Storing berries and grains allowed for people to settle down and build a village around them, providing food for the coming Winter when travel became limited due to hazards and bad weather. However, there was a problem: rodents. These animals also sought a place to settle down for the Winter, especially if that place had ample food supplies to feed on. So, the settled peoples always had to worry about their stored food being eaten or spoiled by rodents and other small animals, which meant that the settle group could starve if the stored food became spoiled or was missing sue to a cunning rodent. This fact hampered the rise of civilization, for no civilization could arise from such a settlement if food could not be procured and protected to last through the many months. This was a problem.
Enter the nomads into the realm of the thatched hut people. They saw the settled people and envied their nominal security, as they had a place to stay and wait while the rains fell or a place to hunker down with warmth when the snows came. At first the settled people didn't like the nomads and thought them dangerous. It was common knowledge in the era of prehistory that nomads were known to attack and rob the possessions of the settled people. So at first the settled people banned together and ran the nomad out, keeping them away from the village. The itinerant travelers weren't welcome there. It wouldn't be so different in later ages, when townspeople held to a natural dislike and prejudice of nomadic peoples, such as the Bedouin, the Roma (Gypsies) or the Vlachs of the Balkans. Just as these nomadic people served a purpose for the townsfolk so did the nomads of prehistory, and this is where our friend the dog enters the story of the founding of civilization. To this day the Bedouin of the Negev desert breed the ancient Canaanite hound, perhaps the oldest bred dog on Earth. The mating ritual for these dogs so as to produce new, young pups is held with as much fanfare and festivity as one would expect at a wedding, hearkening back to ancient times. As in ancient times, the Bedouin have been held in low regard by the townspeople, who thought of them as outsiders, dog breeding being considered a not-so-highly regarded pastime by the locals inhabiting the city.
Desperate to enter the realm of the settled people and become part of their tribal way of life, the nomads attempted to barter with the settled people, as the people of the village did this with the inhabitants of other settlements. However the nomads possessed little to barter with. Perhaps it was by accident or by the hand of fate, but as a nomad was attempting to communicate with a settled man, along came a bear, wolf or wild lion. To the rescue of the nomad came his trusty friend, who attacked the animal and drove it off. Amazed, the settled man invited the nomad to his hut. There, with his dog at his side, the nomad experienced the hospitality of a thankful and gracious village man who's life was saved by this tamed version of the wild wolf. While they sat in the hut, the nomad's dog jumped up and ran to the dark corner of the hut, near the baskets holding grain, and returned with a dead rat in his jaw. Clearly the village man could see the benefit of this animal that the despised nomads possessed. Now the nomad had something to barter with. The village man wanted to trade, perhaps a basket or two of grain, for the dog, an animal that would be an asset to the entire settlement. And so it was, the dog became the property of a new kind of master, and it was his job...along with the cat...to keep rodents and vermin from stealing the food supplies that the settlement depended on. Keeping these little vermin at bay and controlling them, as well as keeping watch for human enemies and wild animals that prowled at night, helping in the hunt for birds of prey and game, civilization was thus guaranteed. If not for the dog, it may not have happened at all, and we are all in the debt of this magnificent creature, who befriended man in the most ancient of times. It is as if the dog were sent by heaven itself to civilize us and teach us the ways of culture. Studying humanity at the dawn of history, we see how important the dog really was, and is, to our very existence.
Perhaps what is astounding about dogs is the fact they display amazing virtues. They are noble and forbearing, brave and watchful, protective of their adopted family around them whom they consider as part of their 'pack', no different from how wolves are with their groups. They are eager to please their master and will stay awake at night if a danger might be present, standing guard and willing to forfeit it's own life in defense of the family. They display love and devotion, and are appreciative if and when the receive it. Also, the dog is the most mutated animal there is, as the various breeds and crossbreeds will testify. All dogs are descended from the wolf, but the bred species display more variety than any other animal: the giant Great Dane and the Toy Poodle, the shaggy English Sheepdog and the swift, sleek Greyhound are all cousins and stem from the wild wolves of the forest. They have been bred to perform many tasks, from herding and hunting to simply being a lap dog for the comfort of somebody's longing for a companion. The dog is an amazing species of animal indeed.
In legend and folklore, dogs have been honored and glorified. The ancient Persians told stories of heroic war hounds who went to war accompanying their masters, fighting alongside them in the heat of battle. The Romans recited the legend of two orphans, Romulus and Remus, who were suckled and nurtured by a she-wolf eventually to become the founders of Rome. The bodies of Viking chiefs of the northlands of Europe, when they died, were placed on a long boat which was set out to sea, their dog at their feet. In Greek myth, two-headed dogs guarded the gates to the underworld. There are many Indian stories about dogs and how they taught humans about attaining divinity and harmony. Dogs have been around with us ever since we came down from the trees and began to roam about, then settled down to create civilization, which could not have happened without their help.
In the realm, religion and culture of Islam the dog is well known as well, though the animal is not so well liked or honored. Arabs and Semites in general held a rather low opinion of the dog. This may be due in part to the ancient prehistoric division between nomadic and settled town people, as was mention earlier. In the cities of the Middle East, the desert surrounds the ends of the town, and these ends come to an abrupt halt. The city seemingly ends all of a sudden, with no suburbs or outlying neighborhoods. On the edges of the town lurk the dogs who are seeking food and the water of the wells that were dug on what was originally an oasis. Perhaps the dogs remember the day when one of their kind helped to found civilization, thus creating the concept of the town and the city. They eventually became numerous due to man's irresponsibility in his breeding habits, and began to be shunned and forced out. The cat, long in competition with dogs as the controller of vermin, became the supreme watcher of the inner household. Watchdogs were no longer needed to guard the city after the innovation came about that walls could be built with watchmen standing guard atop these walls in high towers, watching for an approaching enemy. So, in time the noble dog was usurped by his old foe, the cat. Cats remained in the comfort of the house, honored and glorified, while dogs were kicked out of the town forever. Along with their banishment came the association that dogs are dirty and lowly animals, too eager to compete with man for food and water. To call someone a dog is to insult them in parts of the Semitic Middle East. Son of a dog, son of a bitch...yes a bitch is a female dog...these are not compliments, but for prehistoric people to be call the son of a canine would have been an honor. Sadly and unfairly, in time dogs became synonymous with vermin, filth and yes, even the devil himself.
There are numerous precautions about dogs regarding Islam, most of which come from the hadith collections which are stories and accounts of the life of Prophet Mohammed- created centuries after Mohammed lived and died. If a black dog crosses in front of you while you are reciting your prayers, your prayer is rendered invalid. If a dog licks you, you have to wash the licked spot seven times, the eighth time with dust from the Earth, to render the spot pure enough for prayer. The barking of a dog is the voice of the devil himself, seek refuge in Allah if you hear such barking. One hadith even says that it is permissible to kill dogs. Caninicide...the act of killing street and stray dogs en masse by the hundreds, even thousands...is practiced in a number of Muslim countries. The government of Iran injects the poor animals with acid to get rid of them. The cruelty of the manner in which these animals are exterminated reveals an inner hatred and despising of the dog that can only be attributed to the whims and passions of fanatical religious clerics who have forgotten what real love and feeling are. The expression "lives the life of a dog" shows what the expression really means in Muslim countries and in Muslim societies. In other words, you wouldn't want to be a dog in the lands of the religion of peace.
However, the hatred of dogs is not universal in the world and culture of Islam. People raised dogs and still do, and many people love their dogs. The manifestation of dog hating can be traced to the source, Arabia, as Muslims around the world endeavor to be better Muslims by trying to be more 'Arab'. Women are covered up, religious minorities are oppressed, and anyone who doesn't speak or dress like an Arab is scrutinized and his or her faith is in doubt. Dogs get the end of the stick as well, as there is no room for canines in the Wahabi inspired, sons of the desert Islam. But it wasn't always this way.
It is true that Mohammed was an Arab of the Hejaz. There were elements of his life that reflected this: he married a few wives and clearly loved to surrounded by women. He was cunning and shrewd, and perhaps had to be because of the nature of his bloody struggle with the cruel Meccans, fellow Arabs, in which he was engaged in. The records from the hadith indicate that he wasn't very fond of dogs, though he told a story where a woman went to hell because she was cruel to a dog. He himself is said to have taken off his slipper and used it to hold water to give to a thirsty dog while in the desert. The relatively few numbers of stories of kindness or indifference to dogs in the hadith, complied centuries after Mohammed by the Arab caliphs who commissioned them so as to legitimize their right to rule, may be due to the fact that these Arabs were disinterested in dogs as the population was disinterested as well. The nobility and dignity of dogs or any animal weren't important to a people who needed to be ruled and governed by a caliph hell bent on uniting and consolidating his realm. The dog for them just wasn't at the top of their priority list.
Mohammed's son in law Ali Ibn Abu Talib, the man whom the Shi'a claim should have been the heir to lead Mohammad's revolution in Arabia, in fact historically the closest person to Mohammed all through his career, displays a different side to what may have been Mohammed's true understanding and feelings about dogs. In his sayings and sermons, much of which was collected in the 10th century volume known as the nahjul Balagha Ali speaks of compassion to all of the creatures of the Earth. In fact, he lists ten noble qualities of the dog, whom he sues a s an example of a good believer: the respect shown to the master at all times, overjoyed when dog and master meet, the fact that one can abuse a dog and still, after much abuse the dog still wags it's tail in devotion, the willingness to forfeit it's life in service and duty...all of these and more Ali enumerates as he encourages people to imitate the noble dog. "A dog follows its master lovingly, as a Muslim should follow his or her God and perform good deeds and speak good words, with as much devotion". Historians have time and again have had nothing but praise for this great man, who lived and died in his time. Throughout his life he fought and struggled to bring about a society of justice for all peoples of all faiths, and for all creatures, though he had to experience the misery of a society falling apart, civil war and unwanted political intrigue that saw his own wife Fatima, Mohammed's own daughter, killed in this strife by people who were deemed to be companions. The story of Ali's tragic, personal life is filled with tales of kindness, to humans and to animals, even to birds and insects. With fortitude and forbearance, his ten listed attributes of the dog is what this great man held to and believed in, as he displayed all these attributes in his own life. To Ali ibn Abu Talib, the dog was the best example of service and devotion to God or to a godly cause.
In surah Kahf (The Cave) of the Quran there are three stories, all probably retellings of older tales which Mohammed may have heard in his younger days while running caravans to Syria. There in the Aramaic speaking world of the fertile crescent, the very cradle of civilization, Mohammed would listen to the stories told by priests, rabbis and monks as well as by the various merchants he may have met. In this surah, there is a story of Zulqarnain, the two horned king who conquered the world, but ruled it justly and with wisdom. Some say Zulqarnain is Alexander the Great, some think him as Cyrus. Then there is a story of Moses and a mysterious being who is sent to guide him, possibly from the Jewish or the Gnostic repertoire of teaching tales. Then there is the story of the Seven Sleepers...and their dog. The dog became known in folklore and legend as Qitmir. The Quran says that these 'sleepers' were a group of believers who lived long ago. They were living at the time when the pagan Romans were persecuting Christians, and these seven lads were devout in the belief in God. They were chased by Roman soldiers and their dog led them to a cave where they went to sleep...for a very long time. The Quran mentions that the number of the sleepers may have been six and the dog the seventh, or there were seven and the dog the eighth. The indication though, is that Qitmir played an important role in this story. They all slept for many years, maybe even a century, with Qitmir sleeping as well though he would seem as if he was awake. Fear would grip all who would venture too near the cave as Qitmir the watchdog would growl and show his teeth, as he was the elect guardian of God's chosen. When they all awoke they found themselves in a new world, one in which the state religion had become Christianity, the faith for which they were persecuted. There are many stories and versions of this tale, but it is in the Quran and the dog is given a high and lofty place...mentioned as possibly being numbered as one of the sleepers themselves. This is an honor, to be mentioned in a book believed to have come directly from God. Why Muslims would follow the clergy/ulema who are too blind to see the nobility of the animal in this book and in this regard is beyond comprehension. This is clearly in defiance of the will of God, who chose the dog to protect and guide his beloved servants.
Another folk tale from the Sufi/Dervish tradition that was used to demonstrate the cheerful demeanor and spiritual importance of the dog and the sometimes self centered ego of humans is this story from the Balkans, an old tale from Bosnia about a hodja (imam) who used to walk every day to the mosque to pray and to give a lecture. Ironically, every time he was about to perform the common etiquette of removing his shoes before entering the mosque, a little dog would run up to him and, wagging his tail, would lick the ankles of the reverend. In much of the hadith literature, dogs are considered unclean. The old hodja, shocked at what he now thought was a state of impurity, would beat the poor dog with a stick and throw stones at him, chasing him away.
"Now" he complained "I will have to make avdest (ablutions) to wash myself again as I am now impure. Damned dog, go to hell you little devil!"
Next day the same thing happened: the little dog ran up to the hodja, innocently wagging it's tail and licked his ankles again. The old man beat him so hard with a stick the dog yelped in pain and ran away in fear. One day, the hodja had enough. As the dog approached, the old man picked up a huge rock and as the dog came close, the old man hit the dog on the head with the rock, crushing it's skull. Before he breathed it's last, the dog managed to lick the feet of the old man one more time, then expired. The old man felt a weird feeling come over him, a feeling of shame and guilt, but went on into the mosque anyway to pray. When he finished his 'namaz' prayers, he felt a sharp pain in his chest and he rolled over on the floor, clutching his heart. He screamed out "yes I didn't know, I'm sorry. Astaghfirullah, forgive me, ya Allah! Hafiz Allah, help me!" A worshipper in the mosque bent down to help the old imam now breathing hard and gasping for air. His reverence pulled the man close gripping him by his shirt collar tightly, and he then whispered something into his ear. Then he, like the dog earlier that afternoon, let go and breathed his last breath, and he died.
All the shocked worshippers gathered round now the man whom the hodja had grabbed onto and whispered into his ear, as he was the last one to hear the man speak. "What did the hodja say to you, whispering in your ear something just before he died? What did he tell you?"
The man looked at the puzzled congregation and spoke, in a serious and low voice:
"He said...We sent the dog to you to compete your avdest, the obligatory ritual cleansing before prayer, as you never washed your ankles properly. Our servant did that for you and you killed him, just as humans killed our prophets we sent to them as a mercy. You murdered the bearer of God's blessings. But at least in the next life, your ankles will shine and perhaps will save you from hellfire, as the dog you killed washed your ankles for you." Just then, a small boy came up and told the story to the crowd of what had transpired outside that afternoon to which he was witness, how the old imam killed the dog who's only crime was licking his feet. The moral of this story? God sends his creatures to us for a reason, and we never know for what reason they are sent. In this story, God sent a dog to complete the old imam's incomplete ablutions, readying him for the afterlife. It is said in Muslim tradition that the inhabitants of paradise will be recognized by the light which will shine from the parts of the body- hands, arms, face, feet...they washed in life while making ablutions.
It is a shame that the dog has been relegated to such a low place in Islam. The religion of the clergy/ulema does not allow for compassion and mercy, love and caring. Dogs teach us these virtues, and a child can learn so much about caring and love by having a dog in their life. They would learn what a true friend and companion is, what love really means and how to love and care for others. What they could learn from these magnificent animals is priceless, not to mention that as a playmate dogs make us laugh. They have a face that almost always seem to smile, their teeth shining, the longing and devotion in their eyes so real and captivating. If humans can love like dogs do, Ali said, the world would know what love is all about.
In the ongoing endeavor to attempt to imitate the dignity of the dog, in complete opposition to the religion of the Muslim clergy there is a Sufi story told about Jesus. Walking along a road, Jesus came across a group of people who were staring and making a commotion about a dead dog on the side of this road. The dog must have been there a while as the body was in a state of decay.
One man said "look at the body of this dog, how it decays and rots!"
Another man held his nose: "the smell of the rotting flesh. How disgusting!"
One man complained about the maggots and flies that were consuming the animal.
To this, Jesus spoke:
"Why do you all complain about that which you all will experience, meaning death? You will decay like this, will you not? Speak not of how the animal looks now, dead and decaying on the road. But rather speak of the whiteness of it's teeth, the shine of it's hair, how it loved it's family, how it guarded it's master's house, how this animal played with the small children of that house. Think of how this dog greeted everyone with a smile on it's face. Even though the people may have abused and beat it, still this animal came back wagging it's tail, ready to return love for cruelty. Speak not of it's ultimate demise, but honor the animal by recounting it's days here on Earth and the nobility of it's bearing. No finer animal exists than this noble dog, ordained by God to be man's truest friend".
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