Oppression of the Animals

Once their offspring had multiplied, the anxiety about animals and wild beasts original: Dám o dad—harmless and predatory beasts which had filled everyone’s hearts entirely disappeared. Afterward, they founded many forts, cities, villages, and towns, and began to live there in comfort. They prepared the tools for carrying out agriculture, and every person engaged in their own occupation. By catching animals in snares, they began using them for riding and carrying heavy loads, and for farming and cultivation.

The elephants and horses, camels and donkeys—and many other animals that used to roam freely through the woods and wilderness like uncontrolled camels original: Shutur i bemahár—A camel without a nose-ring for control; used here to mean "independent" or "refractory"—grazing on fresh green plants wherever they wished without anyone interfering with them, now had their shoulders rubbed raw by their labor day and night. Sores formed on their backs, and although they screamed and cried out in pain, when did these human masters ever listen to them?

Fearing capture, many animals fled into remote deserts and forests. The birds also abandoned their nesting places, took their young with them, and flew away from the lands of men. Every man imagined that the animals were his slaves, and they used all sorts of tricks and traps to hunt them down.

This conflict lasted for a long time, until God Almighty sent Muhammad Mustafa, the last of the Prophets (may the peace and blessings of God be upon him!) original: "peace of God and rest be upon him"; a translation of the Arabic honorific Sallallahu Alayhi Wa-Sallam to guide humanity. The true Prophet showed all sinners the path of righteousness. Many Jinn original: Jins; supernatural spirits in Islamic tradition also received the blessing of the true faith and the honor of Islam. After another age had passed, Biwarasb, the sage of the Jinn,