The Pigeons

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘Pigeons are the birds of the Prophets, ‘Alayhim al- Salam.”’

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘The first pigeon in Makkah was the pigeon of Tsma‘il ‘Alayhi al-Salam.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The real free pigeon remaining is the pigeon that belonged to Tsma‘il ibn Ibrahim, ‘Alayhima al-Salam, who kept it for comfort. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is preferable to keep a bird with clipped wings for comfort and for (to dispel) fear from vermin.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘These pigeons -the pigeons of al-Haram (the sacred area) - are of the offspring of the pigeon of Tsma‘il ibn Ibrahim, ‘Alayhima al-Salam, that belonged to him.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A house in which pigeons exist, the people of that house do not receive any harm from Jinn. The dimwitted Jinns play in the house, thus they play with pigeons and the people are left alone.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man complained before the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, about loneliness and fear. He (the Messenger of Allah) commanded him to keep a pair of pigeons in his house.’”

“I once mentioned pigeons before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) said, ‘You can keep them in your homes; it is a lovely (hobby). The prayer of Nuh (Noah) (a.s.), has arrived at them. It is the most comforting thing in the house.’”

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that pigeons are of the birds of the Prophets, ‘Alayhim al- Salam, who kept them in their homes. Any home in which there is a pigeon, the people therein are not harmed by the dimwitted ones of Jinn who plays in the house, thus they play with the pigeons and leave the people alone.’ I then saw in the house of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), a pigeon that belonged to his son ’Isma‘il.”

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), looked at pigeons in his house and said, ‘With every vibration that it causes, Allah thereby dispels from the house the incantations and spells by the people on earth that may try to enter therein.”’

“I once was sitting in the house of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and I looked at a pigeon of Ra’‘ibiy kind (name of a place) that made a long sound. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), looked at me and asked, ‘O Dawud, do you know what this bird says?’ I said, ‘No, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It prays against the people who murdered al- Husayn (a.s.), so you must keep it in your homes.’”

I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘The sound of the wings of pigeon dispels the devils.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, with pigeons, keeps a house safe from crumbling down.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must keep al-Ra’‘ibiy pigeon in your homes because it condemns the murderers of al-Husayn ibn Ali, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, and Allah has condemned his killer.’”

“’Isma‘il ibn abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked me for a gift and I gave him a Ra’Tbiy bird (a pigeon). Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), came in and said, ‘Keep this al-Ra’‘ibiy bird in the house with me for comfort.’ ‘Uthman has said, ‘I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when in front of him there was a pigeon for which he (the Imam) made the bread in pieces.’”

“I once went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and I saw three green pigeons on his furnishing which had made droppings on the furnishings and I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, these pigeons have dirtied the furnishings.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is preferable that they stay inside the house.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that in the house of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, there was a pair of red pigeons.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin had dug a well, then they threw things in it and it was reported to him (the Imam). He went, stood on the well and said, ‘You must stop throwing things in it, otherwise, I will make the pigeons to use it as their living place.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘The sound of the flapping wings of a pigeon repels Shayatin.’”

“Once, pigeons were mentioned before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and a man said, ‘It has come to my knowledge that once ‘Umar saw a pigeon flying and a man underneath was running. ‘Umar then said, “One Satan runs under another Satan.” Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘(It is because) Tsma‘il was not there with you.’ Someone then asked, ‘Was he (Tsma‘il) a friend (of pigeons)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The pigeons of al-Haram (the sacred area) are of the remaining pigeons of Tsma‘il.’”

“Once a man asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a pair of pigeons which hatched chicks with him; if a bird can mate a mother bird or daughter bird. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful with what is in animals.’”