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Do all animals form communities according to the Quran?
A verse from Surah Al-An'am reminds us that no creature on earth nor any bird that flies with its wings exists without belonging, just like humans, to a true organized community.
3 min read · Published 1 week ago · 22 views
In the Arabian desert, the first listeners of the Quran knew well the animals that surrounded them: camels in caravans, sheep in flocks, birds that migrated above the oases. Yet one verse would transform their view of these creatures, revealing to them that they did not live in silent disorder, but within true "communities," just as humans do.
The verse from Surah Al-An'am
This verse is found in Surah Al-An'am, the sixth surah of the Quran:
"There is no animal on earth, nor a bird that flies on its wings, but they are nations like you. We have not neglected anything in the Book. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered." (Surah Al-An'am, verse 38)
This verse establishes three essential truths. First, there is no exception: "every animal" and "every bird" are included, from the tiniest insect to the largest mammal. Second, these creatures form "umam"—a word designating organized communities, comparable to those of humans, with their own ways of living, communicating, and organizing themselves. Finally, they too will be gathered before their Lord, which grants them a dignity and place in creation that goes beyond any mere usefulness they may have for human beings.
What Quranic scholars understood from it
According to several commentators of the Quran, this verse invites us to observe the animal world with humility: ants that build their underground cities, bees that organize their hive, migratory birds that travel in structured groups—all of this testifies to an order willed by the Creator. It is reported that some scholars connected this verse to the episode of the ant in Surah An-Naml, where an ant warns its companions of the arrival of Solomon's army (may peace be upon him)—further evidence that these creatures possess social life and a form of communication unique to their species.
Others emphasized the expression "We have not neglected anything in the Book," understood as a reminder of God's perfect knowledge: nothing concerning these animal communities, their numbers, their fate, their end, escapes the Lord. This insistence places humans before a creation far vaster and far more organized than they often perceive in their daily lives.
A special place in creation
Some scholars also linked this verse to hadiths recommending gentleness toward animals. In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is reported that the Prophet ﷺ mentioned forgiveness granted to a woman for giving water to a thirsty dog, thus illustrating the value placed on all animal life. Though these texts address different subjects, they converge toward the same vision: animals are not mere objects at the service of humans, but creatures in their own right, endowed with an organization and existence proper to them before their Creator.
Remembering that each species, from the earthworm to the eagle, belongs to a community willed and organized, invites us to regard the living world around us differently. Far from being mere scientific curiosity, this recognition calls for responsibility: respecting the habitat of animals, avoiding harm to them without reason, and ensuring their well-being—all this honors a part of creation that the Quran itself places alongside humanity.
