Animals Mentioned in the Holy Qur'an

1. Ant
Once, Prophet Sulaym?n (A) was marching with his large army when they entered a valley where thousands of ants lived. Prophet Sulaym?n (A) could understand the language of the animals, so when he heard the queen of the ants warning them to run into their homes, he ordered his army to halt until the ants were safe. The Holy Qur'?n says:
Till they came to the valley of the Ants,
An ant said (addressing the other ants of the valley): "O you ants! Enter your homes,
So that Sulaym?n and his companions may not crush you while they are not aware of it. (an-Naml, 27:18)

2. Apes
The fishermen of the town of Elah followed the religion of Prophet M?s? (A). All?h ordered them not to fish on the day of Saturday (Sabbath). As a test, on Saturdays, the fish were very easy to catch. The fishermen disobeyed the command of All?h and were punished by being turned into apes. The Holy Qur'?n says:
And indeed you know of those amongst you who disobeyed on the Sabbath,
so We said to them, "Become apes, despised!" (al Baqar?h, 2:65)

3. Ass, Donkey
Luqm?n was a wise man whose words of advice to his son have been recorded in the Holy Qur'?n. Here, he advises his son not to speak in a loud and harsh voice, like that of a donkey.
"And be moderate (in your movement); and lower you voice:
verily the most unpleasant of voices is the braying of the asses." (Luqm?n, 31:19)

4. Bee
All?h has guided all his creatures on how to live. To humans He sent Prophets, and to animals he gave guidance through their instinct. The Holy Qur'?n says:
And your Lord revealed to the bee saying:

5. Camel
The camel is a marvellous creature. It is known as the "ship of the desert" because of the special pads on its feet that stop it from sinking into the sand and allow it to move fast (float) over loose sand. It is capable of travelling long distances without water, and stores water in its hump. It is large enough to carry men and goods and protects the rider in the storms of the desert with its body. The Holy Qur'?n says:
Do they not look at the camels, how they are created?
(al Gh?shiyah, 88:17)

6. Cow
All?h commanded the people of Prophet M?s? (A) to sacrifice a cow, as a test. The people did not want to obey, so they kept asking for information about what kind of cow was required for the sacrifice. The Holy Qur'?n says:
He said: "He says: 'Verily, she is a cow not (yet) used to till the land,
nor irrigate the tillage,
sound and without a blemish.'
They said: "Now you have brought the truth."
So they sacrificed her, although they almost did not do it. (al Baqarah, 2:71)

7. Crow
The sons of Prophet ?dam (A) both offered a sacrifice to All?h. Only the offering of H?bil was accepted and his brother Q?bil became so jealous and angry that he killed \abil. Having done this evil deed, he did not know what to do with the dead body of his brother. The Holy Qur'?n says:
Then Allah sent a crow which dug up the earth
so as to show him how to cover up the naked corpse of his brother.
He said: "Woe to me! Am I not able to be as this crow
and so cover up the naked corpse of my brother?"
So he became of the remorseful. (al M?-idah, 5:31)

8. Dog
The example of the dog has been used by All?h for the people who do not listen to All?h. When such people are told not to do their evil acts they do not listen and even when they are left alone, they act in the same way. Just like it is the nature of the dog to loll out his tongue when attacked or left alone, the nature of the bad people is that they will never listen to what All?h says.
Therefore his likeness is that of a dog,
if you attack him he lolls out his tongue, or if you leave him, he (still) lolls out his tongue.
Such is the example of the people who belie Our signs.
(al-A`r?f, 7:176)

9. Elephant
There was a bad king named Abraha who once came to destroy the Holy Ka`ba with a big elephant. He wanted the people to stop coming to the Ka`ba and instead come to pray at a big church that he had built. When he tried to destroy the Ka`ba, All?h sent a flock of tiny birds that carried small stones in their beaks and claws. When the stones were dropped on Abraha's army, many of the elephants and the soldiers were killed. Abraha ran away. The Holy Qur'?n says:
Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the fellows of the Elephant?
Did He not cause their plan to fail?
He sent down upon them flocks of birds,
Pelting them with stones of baked clay,
And leaving them like straw, eaten up (by cattle).(al F?l, 105)

10. Ewes (female sheep)
Prophet D?w?d (A) was a king as well as a messenger of All?h. He used to settle the arguments of people. This verse describes one such case that was brought before him.
This is my brother
who has ninety and nine ewes while I have only one;
and he said: "give it to me, and has prevailed over me in argument (forced me to do so)."
(D?w?d) said, "He is unjust in demanding your ewe to add to his ewes." (38:23,24)

11. Fish
Prophet Yunus (A) was sent to a town where the people did not listen to him. He spent a long time trying to teach them about All?h and his message, but they continued in their old ways. Finally he left the town in anger. The Holy Qur'?n says:
Verily Y?nus was (one) of the messengers.
When he fled unto a laden ship.
And they drew lots, and he was of those thrown (into the water),
And the fish swallowed him while he was blaming (himself).
Had he not been one of those who glorify Him
He would certainly have been detained in its belly till the day of resurrection (37: 139-144)

12. Fly
The idol worshippers of Makka used to leave honey next to their idols and when it had disappeared the next morning, they used to foolishly say that idols had eaten it. Actually the honey was eaten by flies. All?h uses the example of this small insect to show how weak man can be. The Holy Qur'?n says:
O people, a parable is set forth, so listen to it:
Verily, those whom you call upon beside All?h
cannot create a fly, even if they all gather together to do so;
and if the fly should carry away anything from them, they cannot take it back from it.
(How) weak are those who invoke and those whom they invoke! ( 22:73)

13. Frogs
The people of Egypt refused to listen to the preaching of Prophet M?s? (A), and so they were punished by All?h for their defiance. The people ran to Prophet M?s? (A), begging him to help them out of their misery. However, as soon as All?h gave them relief, they returned to their old ways. The Holy Qur'?n says:
So We sent upon them - flood, and locusts, and lice,
and frogs, and blood, several clear signs,
yet they remained arrogant, and they were a guilty people.
(al A`r?f, 7:133)

14. Horses
Among All?h's blessings to man is the animals that he can ride and use for transport. All?h says He has created these as well as animals man has never even heard of. The Holy Qur'?n says:
And (He has created) horses; mules and asses that you may ride them, and as an adornment;
and He creates what you do not know. (16:8)

15. Lion
When the unbelievers of Makka heard the message of the Holy Prophet (S), instead of welcoming it, they were frightened by the changes that Isl?m would bring in their lifestyle. All?h says they reacted like donkeys when they see a wild lion:
As though they were frightened asses,
Fleeing from a lion. (al Muddaththir, 74:50,51)

16. Locusts
Before the Day of Judgement, the dead people in the graves will be called out to account for their actions. They will be huge numbers of them, swarming out like locusts. The Holy Qur'?n says:
They shall come out from the graves with downcast eyes
like locusts scattered abroad, (Qamar 54:7)

17. Serpent
Prophet M?s? (A) went to the court of Fir`awn and told him that he was a messenger of All?h. He told him to obey All?h and let the slaves of Bani Isr?-?l go free, Fir`awn asked for proof of Prophet M?s?'s (A) claim. The Holy Qur'?n says:
(Fir`awn) said, "If you have come with a sign, then show it forth if you are of those who speak the truth.
Then (M?s?) threw down his staff, and lo! It was a live serpent (clearly seen by all).
Then (M?s?) drew forth his hand, and lo! It was white (dazzling bright) to the beholders. (A'r?f, 7:106-8)

18. Sheep/Goats
The pagan `Arabs had strange customs and superstitions. Their priests made up rules to make themselves rich. One such rule was that they made sure the animals slaughtered for the idols was taken by them. (The meaning of this verse can only be properly understood if the previous verse in the S?rah are studied also.) The Holy Qur'?n says:
(Take) eight in (four) pairs - two of the sheep and two of the goats.
Say: "Has He forbidden the two males or the two females,
or what is contained in the wombs of the two females?
Inform me with knowledge, if you be truthful." (al An`?m, 6:144)

19. Spider
Amongst the flimsiest structures is the spider's web. The people who rely on others besides All?h, take for themselves guardians who are weak and frail. All?h is the only One who can protect and help us. The Holy Qur'?n says:
The likeness of those who take guardians besides All?h is that of the spider
who makes a house for herself,
but verily the frailest of all houses is the house of the spider;
if only they know. (al `Ankab?t, 29:41)

20. Swine
All?h has allowed us to eat most things on this earth. He has however, stopped us from eating things that are harmful for us. Amongst these forbidden things is the flesh of the swine or pig - hadith tells us that the people who eat the meat of the swine lose their sense of modesty and their actions become shameless. The Holy Qur'?n says:
Verily, He has only forbidden you what dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine,
and that over which any other name than Allah has been invoked.
But whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring, nor exceeding the limit, then he is not guilty of sin;
verily, All?h is forgiving, merciful. (al Baqarah, 2:173)