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In colloquial use, the word "animal" excludes human beings, as when someone says, "We are not animals", or when a mother reprimands her child, "You eat like an animal!". Of course she does; she is an animal. Most people who have not had a formal education may not be aware that the biological sciences place the human species (Homo sapiens) in the biological kingdom
Animalia, in the same tribe as
chimpanzees. While, as far as I'm aware, there is no direct similar placement in Islamic texts, the sura
Al-‘Ankabūt says, "Every soul must taste of death, then to Us you will be returned" (
Qur'an 29:57). Here "every soul" is generally interpreted as including animals. The word translated as "soul" is
نَفْسٍ (nafs), of which the primary meaning is "living creature", related to an Arabic word that can mean both "soul" and "breath". (The English word "animal" comes from Latin animalis, which literally means, "possessing an anima", where Latin anima can likewise mean "soul" and "breath".) So I think any separation between humans and other animals is not an absolute one in Islamic thought; all are God's creatures who God at some time will call back. --
Lambiam18:16, 22 April 2020 (UTC)reply
Welcome to the Wikipedia Humanities Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a
transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the
current reference desk pages.
In colloquial use, the word "animal" excludes human beings, as when someone says, "We are not animals", or when a mother reprimands her child, "You eat like an animal!". Of course she does; she is an animal. Most people who have not had a formal education may not be aware that the biological sciences place the human species (Homo sapiens) in the biological kingdom
Animalia, in the same tribe as
chimpanzees. While, as far as I'm aware, there is no direct similar placement in Islamic texts, the sura
Al-‘Ankabūt says, "Every soul must taste of death, then to Us you will be returned" (
Qur'an 29:57). Here "every soul" is generally interpreted as including animals. The word translated as "soul" is
نَفْسٍ (nafs), of which the primary meaning is "living creature", related to an Arabic word that can mean both "soul" and "breath". (The English word "animal" comes from Latin animalis, which literally means, "possessing an anima", where Latin anima can likewise mean "soul" and "breath".) So I think any separation between humans and other animals is not an absolute one in Islamic thought; all are God's creatures who God at some time will call back. --
Lambiam18:16, 22 April 2020 (UTC)reply