Summing Up ...

Summing Up : Using the word umma about animals as well as amthal to explain the relation between man and animal signifies two points: Firstly, the animals may be called umma only when a common goal in life can be found for them, whether they themselves have chosen this goal (optional) or the laws of nature have imposed it on them (compulsive). Thus, simply having a proper name and being classified on that basis – as some have claimed[^31] – is not sufficient for regarding animals as umma .

Secondly, the likeness of animals and humans is to be viewed at from the perspective that the animals enjoy the same circumstances that lead to human resurrection.

For this reason, the similarities of animals and humans cannot be summarized in their common biological characteristics; rather, we have to step beyond this and claim that the same criterion for human resurrection, namely, a kind of consciousness and rational-inner perception that brings about felicity and wretchedness, is also found in animals.

Thus, due to their availing of this blessing, their life would not end with death and upon departing from the material world, they would enter an immaterial world called Hereafter.[^32] This is the amazing aspect of animals’ life that the Holy Qur’an enjoins us to comprehend: ﴾And in your creation [too], and whatever animals that He scatters abroad, there are signs for a people who have certainty.﴿ [^33] 2.

Theo-Philosophical Studies As we noticed, according to religious doctrines, animals have resurrection ( hashr ), that is, their life would not end with death and, like humans, they would begin a new life in the world to come (the immaterial world…