16. Sabaktigin & The Deer

For pity makes the world Soft for the weak and noble for the strong.             -- Sir Edwin Arnold Sabaktigin (975 - 996 CE) was the father of the famous Muhammad of Ghazni. In his youth, he was poor. His only possession was a horse on which he used to ride and go hunting in the forests around his town of Nishapur (in northeastern Iran).     One day Sabaktigin saw in the forest a female deer suckling her young one. She was so absorbed in her child that she took no notice of Sabaktigin who approached her.     Sabaktigin went close to the mother deer who still continued suckling her baby. He alighted from his horse, took up the young deer, mounted his horse and began to ride homeward.     The mother deer followed Sabaktigin over a long distance with a most pitiable look. Sabaktigin was moved. He put the baby deer down. The mother and child ran back towards their shady home. As they   ran back  to the woods, the mother often turned  to look at Sabaktigin who had given back her baby.     That night when Sabaktigin was sleeping, Muhammad the Prophet appeared before him in a vision and said, "Amir Nasuruddin Sabaktigin! The tender mercy you have shown today to a defenceless and unhappy creature has been pleasing in the eyes of God. Your name has been inscribed in the roll of kings. Be you likewise kind to your subjects when you become a king. Never give up the quality of mercy; for, kindness and compassion are the well-spring of blessedness, both in this world and the next.'     True to the words of the Prophet, Sabaktigin became a king and ruled his subjects with kindness and love. ****  **** Additional Information of Interest Click here to find out more about Prophet Muhammad, the embodiment of mercy, and his emphasis on avoiding both physical and mental creulty to animals. Islam expects humankind to treat all animals (all living creatures- birds, sea creatures and insects) with respect and dignity. Click here to find out more about Sabaktigin, father of Muhammad of Ghazni.  Click here for a historical account of this story. Click here to find out more about the city of Nishapur (Nishabur) which is located in the country of Iran. Hunting, purely for recreational sport, is prohibited in Islam. Click here to know more. Click here to find out more about Prophet Muhammad, the embodiment of mercy, and his emphasis on avoiding both physical and mental creulty to animals. Islam expects humankind to treat all animals (all living creatures- birds, sea creatures and insects) with respect and dignity. Click here for some quotations from the holy book of Quran on this subject of kindness to animals.