Muezza

According to a popular folktale, Muezza (or Muʿizza) (Arabic: معزة‎‎) was the Islamic Prophet Muhammad's favorite cat.[1][2]

Story

It is told that Muhammad awoke one day to the sounds of the Adhan, the Muslim daily call to prayer. Preparing to attend, he began to dress himself; however, he soon discovered his cat Muezza sleeping on the sleeve of his prayer robe. Rather than wake her, he used a pair of scissors to cut the sleeve off, leaving the cat undisturbed. On perhaps a separate occasion, upon returning from the mosque, Muhammad received a bow from Muezza. He then smiled and gently stroke his beloved cat three times, promising her a special place in heaven and bestowing the ability for cats to land on all fours.[1][2]

Sources

While the folktale of Muezza is found in both Muslim[3][4] and non-Muslim sources and many hadith reference cats in a positive manner, it does not appear to be attested before the 20th century. It may be based on a similar story told by the followers of the medieval Sufi sheikh Ahmed ar-Rifa'i, who is also said to have cut his sleeve because a cat was sleeping on it, then stitched it up later and said "nothing changed"[5]

A UK-based pet food company, Halal Pet Products Ltd, produces what they claim to be a completely halal cat food, which they named Muezza Pure.[6] The company justifies their development of the product by asserting that, while there are no laws in Islam prohibiting animals from eating haram foods, Muslims are forbidden to handle or feed haram foods, such as pork and carrion, to animals.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Geyer, Georgie Anne (2004). When Cats Reigned Like Kings: On the Trail of the Sacred Cats. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 0-7407-4697-9.
  2. 1 2 Stall, Sam (2007). 100 Cats Who Changed Civilization: History's Most Influential Felines. Quirk Books. ISBN 978-1-59474-163-0.
  3. ↑ "The Sunnah and Blessings in Healing effects of Cats". Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "The Love and Importance of Cats in Islam". Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  5. ↑ Al-Thahabi, Shamsuddin. "الرفاعي", Siyar A'lam Al-Nubala. Retrieved on 24 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Muezza launches World's first Halal cat food". Pet Product Marketing magazine. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
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