Eyes of a Donkey and a Rooster Dr Shabir Choudhry, January 2026, London

  Eyes of a Donkey and a Rooster

Dr Shabir Choudhry, January 2026, London

The hadith narrated by Abu Huraira (RA) states that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“When you hear the crowing of a rooster, ask Allah for His bounty, for it crows when it sees an angel. And when you hear the braying of a donkey, seek refuge in Allah from Satan, for it brays when it sees a devil.”

— Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 3303

Analytical Interpretation

This hadith is traditionally understood within Islamic theology as part of the realm of the unseen (al-ghayb), where angels and devils exist beyond ordinary human perception. It does not attempt to provide a scientific explanation of animal behaviour; rather, it offers moral and spiritual guidance, teaching believers how to respond to everyday experiences with remembrance of God.

1. Symbolic and Spiritual Meaning

In classical Islamic thought, animals are recognised as possessing forms of perception that differ from, and in some cases exceed, those of human beings. This distinction is not meant to elevate animals above humans, but to remind humans of their spiritual vulnerability and the constant presence of moral forces—both benevolent and harmful—in the world.

The rooster, associated with dawn, wakefulness, and the transition from darkness to light, symbolises alertness, renewal, and divine mercy. Its crowing has long been linked to prayer times, making it a natural prompt for gratitude and supplication.

The donkey’s bray, sudden and jarring, functions as a contrasting reminder of disturbance and spiritual distraction, encouraging believers to seek protection from harmful influences.

2. Ethical and Psychological Function

From an ethical and psychological perspective, the hadith operates as a behavioural and spiritual cue. Ordinary sounds are transformed into moments of conscious reflection:

• gratitude and hope upon hearing the rooster,
• caution, humility, and self-examination upon hearing the donkey.

In this way, the hadith disciplines the believer’s inner state, not their scientific understanding of the world.

3. Not a Scientific Claim

It is important to emphasise that classical scholars did not interpret this narration as a biological or zoological assertion. Islamic tradition makes a clear distinction between:

• empirical knowledge (how animals physically behave), and
• spiritual instruction (how humans should respond ethically and spiritually).
• Attempting to force a modern scientific explanation onto the hadith risks missing its intended purpose and spiritual depth.
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4. Theological Context

Islamic theology associates angels with mercy, order, and obedience to God, while devils (shayāṭīn) represent temptation, chaos, and moral distraction. This hadith embeds that worldview into daily life, encouraging spiritual awareness without demanding sensory proof or visual confirmation.

Reflection on Human Perception and Cultural Attitudes

In many Asian cultures, donkeys are often perceived as unintelligent animals. When people wish to insult or belittle someone, they frequently invoke the image of a donkey or speak of a “donkey’s brain.” Yet this cultural assumption invites a deeper reflection.

Allah Almighty declares human beings to be the best of creation, endowed with reason, moral responsibility, and free will. And yet, according to this hadith, an animal commonly regarded as inferior perceives aspects of the unseen that humans cannot. This does not diminish human dignity; rather, it underscores the limits of human perception and the humility required before divine wisdom.

Similarly, the rooster—an animal humans routinely kill and consume—serves as a reminder of divine mercy and angelic presence. This does not imply that animals are superior to humans, but that Allah has distributed sensory capacities according to His wisdom, not human assumptions of status or worth.

Broader Implications

We do not know what faculties Allah has granted to other creatures, nor the full scope of their perception. In many ways, humanity is still discovering the complexity of creation—scientifically, psychologically, and spiritually.

This hadith ultimately teaches humility:

that knowledge is partial,

perception is limited,

And human superiority lies not in what we can see, but in how we respond to what we cannot.

Dr Shabir Choudhry is a London-based political analyst, author, and expert on South Asian affairs, with a focus on Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Kashmir. Email: drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com