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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Animals Welfare Acts and Utilization Limits in Islam Discourse One: Theological Studies Animals’ Hereafter Life The life after death and the life Hereafter ( hashr ) of creatures is among the tenets of all Muslims. The question is set forth by the theologians as to whether animals’ life will end by worldly death, or like humans, they will transfer to the other world and enjoy an immaterial life, too.

This is among the most important epistemic (religio-philosophical) questions, because human beings have been wondering since long ago if they can compare themselves with other creatures, especially with animals, and despite the structural disparity that they have with them, if they will find a way to prove an essential similarity between themselves and animals.

Bringing up the issue of animal’s Resurrection in the religious texts provided a suitable ground for rational endeavors, which are discussed in the best way possible by Muslim exegetes and theologians in exegetical and theo-philosophical sources. 1.

Exegetical Studies In aya 38 of Surat al-An‘am , the Holy Qur’an first brings up the similarity between humans and animals, and then draws the conclusion that the animals also have Resurrection: ﴾There is no animal on land, nor a bird that flies with its wings, but they are communities like yourselves. We have not omitted anything from the Book.

Then they will be mustered toward their Lord.﴿ [^1] Therefore, we can easily find out why the Holy Qur’an explicitly declares that animal’s hashr is among the definite signs of Resurrection:[^2] ﴾when the wild beasts are mustered﴿. [^3] Before any talk about the resurrection ( hashr ) of the animals, it is necessary to clarify the meaning of the word hashr, then clarify what is meant by the similarity of man and animal ( umammun amthalakum = communities like yourselves). 1.1.

Semantics of Hashr 1.1.1.