While a man was walking along a path, he was overcome by severe thirst. He found a well, so he went down into it and drank, then he came out. There was a dog panting, licking the damp earth from thirst. The man said, "This dog has reached the same state of thirst that I had reached." So he went down into the well, filled his leather socks with water, held them with his mouth, and climbed back up, and he gave the dog water to drink. Allah thanked him for it and forgave him. They said, "O Messenger of Allah, is there a reward for us regarding these animals?" He replied, "In every living creature with a moist liver there is a reward."
Hadith Commentary: The Reward for Showing Mercy
This noble hadith from Sunan Abi Dawud (2550) demonstrates the comprehensive mercy of Islamic teachings, where compassion extends to all of Allah's creation. The man's journey represents the spiritual path, while his intense thirst symbolizes the human soul's yearning for divine guidance.
Spiritual Significance of the Actions
The man descending into the well a second time, despite having quenched his own thirst, illustrates the virtue of selflessness and going beyond mere obligation. His ingenious method of carrying water in his sock demonstrates sincere effort in performing good deeds.
Allah's appreciation and forgiveness for this act towards a dog emphasizes that divine mercy encompasses all creatures. The scholars explain that when Allah "appreciates" an action, it indicates special divine acceptance and magnification of reward.
Understanding "Cool Liver"
The phrase "for every cool liver there is a reward" refers to providing relief to any living being suffering from thirst. Classical commentators explain that "cool liver" metaphorically describes the physiological relief experienced when thirst is quenched, as the liver is the organ most affected by dehydration.
This teaching establishes that showing mercy to animals is not only permissible but rewarded substantially in Islam. The scholars derive from this that kindness to any creature - whether human or animal - brings divine recompense.
Legal and Ethical Implications
Islamic jurists cite this hadith to emphasize the obligation of providing water to thirsty animals and the prohibition of causing them unnecessary suffering. The magnitude of reward - forgiveness of sins - for this simple act indicates its high status in Islamic ethics.
This narration forms part of the foundational texts in Kitab Al-Jihad that broaden the concept of struggle beyond physical combat to include the jihad of compassion and service to Allah's creation.