Did you know:
There is a booklet by the name of “The Superiority of Dogs Over Many (evil people) Who Wear Clothes” written by Muhammad ibn Khalaf ibn al-Marzuban ibn Bassam, Abu Bakr al-Mahuli (d. 309 AH)
الكتاب: فضل الكلاب على كثير ممن لبس الثياب
المؤلف: محمد بن خلف بن المرزبان بن بسام، أبو بكر المحولي (ت ٣٠٩هـ)
He said on the first page about people.
أعزّك الله زماننا هذا وفساد مودة أهله وخسَّة أخلاقهم ولُؤم طباعهم وأن أبعد الناس سَفراً من كان سفره في طلب أخٍ صالحٍِ ومن حاول صاحبا يأمن زلته ويدوم اغتباطه كان كصاحب الطريق الحيران الذي لا يزداد لنفسه إتعابا إلا ازداد من غايته بُعداً فالأمر كما وصفتُ
Let me tell you – may Allah honor you – about our times today. People’s love for each other has spoiled, their character has become bad, and their nature has turned mean. The person who travels the farthest is the one searching for a good, pious friend. And whoever tries to find a companion who won’t hurt him and will always make him happy is like a lost traveler – the more tired he gets from walking, the farther he goes from his destination. This is exactly how things are, as I’ve explained.
(End quote)
They meet with you with smiley faces but when you turn away. They start backbiting.
He said:
ولو فتشت في دهرنا هذا لوجدت مثل صاحب الكتاب كثيراً ممن تعاشره إذ لقيكَ رحَّب بك وإذ رغبت عنه أسرفَ في الغيبةِ وتلقَّاكَ بوجه المحبة ويضمرُ لك الغشَّ والمسبَّة وقد علمت ما جاء في الغيبة قال صلى الله عليه وسلم: “من كان له وجهان في الدنيا كان له يوم القيامة لسانان من نار..
واستوى الناسُ في الخديعةِ والمكر فكلٌ لسانه اثنانِ
If you were to examine our times today, you would find many.. who welcome you warmly when they meet you, but when you turn away from them, they indulge excessively in backbiting. They greet you with a face full of affection while concealing deceit and malice within.
You know well what has been said about backbiting. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever has two faces in this world will have two tongues of fire on the Day of Judgment….People have become equal in deceit and cunning – each now speaks with two tongues.
كتاب فضل الكلاب على كثير ممن لبس الثياب by Ibn al-Marzubān al-Maḥūlī (d 309) page 33.
A Strange Miraculous Survival Story: When Allah Saved an Abandoned Infant Through an Unlikely Animal 🐕.
Ibn al-Marzuban ibn Bassam, Abu Bakr al-Mahuli (d. 309 AH) said:
ذكر أبو عبد الله عن أبي عبيدة النحوي وأبي اليقظان سحيم بن حفص وأبي الحسن علي بن محمد بن المدايني عن محمد بن حفص ابن سلمة بن محارب وقد حدثنا بهذا الحديث أبو بكر عبد الله ابن محمد بن أبي الدنيا بإسناد ذكره وهو حديث مشهور أن الطاعون الجارف أتى على أهل دار فلا يشكّ أحدٌ من أهل المحلة أنه لم يبق فيها صغير ولا كبير ولا كان قد بقى في الدار صبيٌّ رضيع صغير يحبو ولا يقوم فعمد مَن بقيَ من أهل تلك المحلة إلى باب الدار فسدوه فلّما كان بعد ذلك بأشهرٍ تحوّل إليها بعض ورثةِ القوم فلما فُتح الباب وأفضى إلى عرصة الدار إذا هو بصبيٍّ يلعب مع جروِ كلبة كانت لأصحاب الدار فلّما رآها الصبيُّ حَبَا إليها فأمكنته مِن لبنها فعلموا أن الصبي بقي في الدار وصار منسيّا واشتد جوعه ورأى جرو الكلبة يرضع فعطف عليها فلما سقته مرة أدامت له وأدام لها الطلب تلك المدة فسبحان مسبب الأسباب.
..It is a well-known story that The devastating plague struck the inhabitants of a household, and soon, no one in the neighborhood doubted that not a single soul neither young nor old had survived. Not even a small, crawling infant who could not yet walk was thought to have remained in that house. The surviving people of the neighborhood then sealed the door of the house.
Months later, some of the heirs of the family came to the house. When they opened the door and entered the courtyard, they found a small child playing with a puppy from a dog that had belonged to the household. When the child saw the dog, he crawled toward her, and she allowed him to nurse from her.
They then realized that the child had indeed remained in the house, forgotten, and when he became desperately hungry, he saw the puppy suckling and was drawn to the dog. After she nursed him once, she continued to do so, and he kept seeking her milk throughout that entire period.
Glory be to the One who orchestrates all means of survival!
فضل الكلاب على كثير ممن لبس الثياب page 49
Note: I cannot verify the authenticity of the above story, but according to the author, it was well-known in his time approximately 1,100 years ago.
Important Disclaimer: Feeding infants dog milk is strictly forbidden in Islam. While extreme survival scenarios may occur, modern science strongly discourages this practice due to:
– Nutritional inadequacy (dog milk lacks essential nutrients for human infants)
– Pathogen risks (potential transmission of harmful bacteria/viruses)
– Developmental harm (unsuitable composition for humanbeing).
10 narrations on dogs.
Ibn al-Marzuban ibn Bassam, Abu Bakr al-Mahuli (d. 309 AH) mentioned some narrations on dogs.
1. Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb once saw a Bedouin leading a dog and asked:
What is this with you?
The Bedouin replied:
O Commander of the Faithful, what a fine companion. If you give to it, it is grateful; if you withhold, it remains patient.”
Umar (ra) said: “What an excellent companion!” So hold fast to it.
2. Ibn Umar (ra) saw a Bedouin with a dog and asked: “What is this with you?”
The Bedouin replied: *”One who shows me gratitude and keeps my secrets.”
Ibn Umar said: “Then keep good care of your companion.”
3. Al-Ahnaf ibn Qais said:
“When a dog wags its tail at you, trust in its affection – but never trust the flattery of men, for many who fawn are treacherous.”
4. Ibn Abbas (ra) declared:
“A faithful dog is better than a treacherous man.”
5. Narrated by Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Rasdi:
“I saw Malik ibn Dinar with a dog and asked: ‘What is this?’
He replied: ‘This is better than evil company.'”
6. In another narration through Abu Umar ibn Khayra:
Al-Fadl ibn Yahya was once drinking with a dog beside him. When asked:
“Do you keep company with a dog?”
He answered:
“Indeed – it protects me from harm, wards off others’ harm, appreciates my smallest kindness, and stands guard My Shelter and My Resting Place
7. Rabī‘ ibn Badr had a dog he had raised. When Rabī‘ died and was buried, the dog kept throwing itself upon his grave until it too died and was buried beside him.”
8. Āmir ibn ‘Antarah had hunting and livestock dogs that he treated with great companionship. When ‘Āmir died, the dogs remained by his grave until they perished while his family and relatives had already dispersed.
9. “Al-A‘mash had a dog that would follow him whenever he walked outside until he returned home. When asked about it, he explained: ‘Once, I saw some boys beating it, so I drove them away. The dog recognized my kindness, and ever since, whenever it sees me, it wags its tail and follows me out of gratitude.’”
Ibn al-Marzuban ibn Bassam (the author commented) Had Al-A‘mash lived to our present age and witnessed the people of our time, hearing the news (of evil people) he would have loved his dog even more and cherished it all the greater!
10. Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Only those ignorant of reality claim dogs are wild beasts. Were this true, they would not:
– Bond with humans while fearing other predators.
– Avoid forests yet seek out homes.
– Shun deserts but favor human gatherings.
How could this be, when they refuse to sleep on bare ground? You’ll never see a dog ignore a carpet or cushion – it always claims the highest, cleanest spot in any gathering, exactly as its owner would protect for himself.”
I [Muhammad ibn Khalaf ibn al-Marzuban ibn Bassam, Abu Bakr al-Mahuli (d. 309 AH)] say:
“A dog knows its master and home. They recognize their names and dwelling places, always returning when driven away. They endure hunger and insults with patience. Among a dog’s virtues:
1. It gazes at its owner’s face with devotion
2. Seeks closeness, even playing gently with children.
3. Restrains its powerful teeth – though they could scar trees yet its playful nips cause no pain.”
End quote from فضل الكلاب على كثير ممن لبس الثياب
Note: I don’t know authenticity of any of the above. The author wrote it against evil people, claiming dogs are better than evil people.
Dhahabi said about the author:
ابن المرزبان
الإمام، العلامة، الأخباري، أبو بكر محمد بن خلف بن المرزبان بن بسام المحولي البغدادي الآجري، صاحب التصانيف.
حدث عن: الزبير بن بكار، وأحمد بن منصور الرمادي، ومحمد بن أبي السري الأزدي لا العسقلاني، وأبي بكر بن أبي الدنيا، وعدة.
حدث عنه: أبو بكر بن الأنباري، وأبو الفضل بن المتوكل، وأبو عمر ابن حيويه، وآخرون.
وقع لي قطعة من تآليفه، وله كتاب: “الحاوي في علوم القرآن”، وكتاب في “الحماسة”، وكتاب “المتيمين” وكتاب “أخبار الشعراء” وغير ذلك، وكان صدوقًا
Ibn al-Marzubān
The Imam, the eminent scholar, the historian, **Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn Khalaf ibn al-Marzubān ibn Bassām al-Muḥawilī al-Baghdādī al-Ājurrī, the author of numerous works.
He narrated from:
– Al-Zubayr ibn Bakkār,
– Aḥmad ibn Manṣūr al-Ramādī,
– Muḥammad ibn Abī al-Sarrī al-Azdī (not the Asqalānī),
– Abū Bakr ibn Abī al-Dunyā,
– and others.
Those who narrated from him include:
– Abū Bakr ibn al-Anbārī,
– Abū al-Faḍl ibn al-Mutawakkil,
– Abū ʿUmar ibn Ḥayyawayh,
– and others.
A portion of his writings has come into my possession. Among his books are:
– Al-Ḥāwī fī ʿUlūm al-Qurʾān (The Comprehensive Guide to the Sciences of the Qur’an),
– A book on Al-Ḥamāsah (Poetic Anthology),
– Al-Mutayyamīn*** (The Love-Stricken),
– Akhbār al-Shuʿarāʾ(Accounts of the Poets*),
– and others. He was Truthful. (Siyar a’laam an-Nubala 11/163)