Ten Excellent Qualities of the Dog, Which a Good Servant of God Should Possess

It is said by wise and learned people that the dog possesses ten excellent quali
ties.
The first is that he is always full of enthusiasm. This is the mark of the devou
t and the virtuous.
The second is that he does not have a fixed place to sleep. This is the conditio
n of wanderers who rely on God.
The third is that he does not sleep all night long, except only for a moment, bu
t spends the night awake in order to guard his master. This is the mark of the l
oving and the merciful.
The fourth is that he leaves behind absolutely nothing when he dies. This is the
characteristic of the poor and the destitute.
The fifth is that he does not forsake his master. Even if he beats him, he does
not abandon him. This is a symbol of those who love and cherish their Master.
The sixth is that he accepts a humble place and remains there. This is a symbol
of those who accept sufferings and adversity.
The seventh is that, even if he laments his position, he perseveres and does no
t abandon it. This is a symbol of the upright, the humble, and the wise.
The eighth is that if one chases him and hits him, and immediately afterwards ca
lls him and offers him a scrap of food, he comes and accepts it without anger or
a grudge. This is a sign of the straightforward and the simple.
The ninth is that he remains at a distance and does not allow himself to approac
h when food is being prepared. This is the attitude of those who have control ov
er themselves and who have received grace.
The tenth is that, when he leaves his place, he does not bring anything with him
. This is a symbol of the ascetics and the anchorites.
He also has another, that when his master beats him, he lies on his back, whimpe
rs, and extends his paw. This is a symbol of servants.
And another, that it is his mouth which attracts blows, and his tail which earns
him food.
Ten Excellent Qualities of the Dog, Which a Good Servant of God Should Possess
An Anonymous Medieval Syriac Text, Translated by Liza Anderson
[Translated from the Syriac text published by Herman F Janssens., ''Les Dix Vert
us du Chien. Texte indit extrait du
Manuscrit Syriaque N 9 de lIndia Office , in
Mlanges de philologie orientale,
Lige: Institut Suprieur dHistoire et deLittratures Orientales de lUniversitm 1932, pp.
119-120. ]

Khawaja Hassan Basri (R.A) has said that a dog is vested with 10 great qualities
which must be possessed by every Believer (MOOMIN). these 10 QUALITIES are as u
nder:1. Almost every day a dog remains under fed and hungry. This is the quality of a
Moomin & Souleheen.
2. The dog has no house of his own.This is again a quality of Moomin and such Mo
omin are known as Ahle Tawakal.
3. The dog sleeps very very less during night. This quality is of Muhaseen.
4. When dog dies he leaves neither any inheritances nor any body to inherit anyt
hing.
5. In spite of torture at the hands of his master dog does not abandon his maste
r. this is the quality of Sadiqeen.
6. The dog remains quite satisfied within a very small space provided to him.
7. If some other entity captures his stay place, dog abandons the place and live
s elsewhere. This quality is known as Razieen.

8. If his master beats him and throws him away,he goes a little away but when th
e master calls him ,the dog forgets the treatment of his master and returns home
happily.
9. Master of the dog may take delicious, crisp and quality varieties of dishes e
tc the dog will not demand but will wait for what little or spoiled or used and
throw away food is given to the dog. the dog happily takes it and does not regis
ter any complaint whatsoever.
10. once dog leaves any place, he never looks back or returns to it come what ma
y.