was on the part of the donkey’s owner, just as when livestock enter during the day and damage crops; for the donkey’s owner had failed to shut the door on it (1), as in a case where the cow came in upon the donkey (2) (* if the donkey was asleep. If, however, he himself had been negligent by bringing her in to the donkey, he would be liable. But to treat the mere act of the donkey attacking the cow, or the cow attacking the donkey *) (3), without negligence (4) on its owner’s part, as equivalent to an attack by its owner (5), would entail treating an animal like a slave: whatever it destroyed would be chargeable against the animal itself and would not go uncompensated. This is no part of Muslim law, and whoever attributes this to the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—has lied about him.

We have said more than once: these ignorant people fabricate what they imagine to be praise and use it to offer praise; thus they combine falsehood with praise. There is neither truthfulness, knowledge, nor justice, and so they go astray (6) concerning what is good and just.

We have already discussed his words, “guides to the truth” [Surah Yūnus: 35].