Animals · a Light

A man climbed into a well for a thirsty dog

A man walking on a very hot day found a well, went down into it, drank, and came up to find a dog panting and eating the wet earth from thirst. He judged that the dog was as thirsty as he had been. He went down again, filled his leather sock with water, held it in his teeth to climb out, and gave the dog a drink. He was forgiven for it. The companions asked whether they were rewarded for animals as well, and were told that in every living creature there is a reward. The report is precise about the mechanics: the sock, the climb, the teeth. The mercy in it is not a feeling. It is a man doing a hard physical task twice for an animal that could not thank him.

Abu Hurayra · reported in two collections

Source · Bukhari 2363, Muslim 2244