How did domestic animals occur?

- Were there domestic animals before human beings were sent to the world?
- Did domestic animals exist before man appeared on earth?
- What were the states of the dog species, as well as animals such as sheep, goats and cows like in nature before human beings existed?
​- In my opinion, it seems that it is very difficult for many of the domestic species to survive if they are not protected, cared and helped by people. Was each of these domestic species wild at first like horses and were they domesticated afterwards?

Dear Brother / Sister,

When man was sent to earth, horses, cows, flies, bees, vineyards, mountains, mines, iron, coal, oil were waiting for man with all their charm and beauty. Allah put everything under man's command. Hz. Adam, who was the first man and also the first prophet, taught humans what to use where and how. Allah had taught Adam the names of the objects and what they were used for. As a matter of fact, the following is stated in the Quran:

“And He (Allah) taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: ‘Tell me the names of these if ye are right.’ They said: ‘Glory to Thee, of knowledge We have none, save what Thou Hast taught us: In truth it is Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom.’” (al-Baqara, 2/31-32).

This education and leadership continued like this throughout the history of humanity. The prophets of the chain of prophets, which started with Hz. Adam, led the way to humanity not only in the spiritual field but also in the material field. Hz. Adam was a pioneer in farming and Hz. Dhul-Kifl was also a pioneer in bakery.

Hz. Dawud learned to melt metals and to soften iron like wax. Hz. Nuh was the pioneer of shipbuilding and carpentry. Hz. Idris was the pioneer of tailoring and writing. Hz. Ibrahim was the founder of woodwork and Hz. Yusuf was the founder of watchmaking.

- Were domestic animals wild at first? Did humans domesticate them when they needed them?

If you seek an answer to such a question by excluding Allah, you cannot give a good answer because it is Allah who creates humans and the beings that humans need; therefore, it is necessary to find out what He says regarding the issue.  

The benefits of animals are mentioned in various places in the Quran and it is stated that they were created for human beings. Allah states the following in some of those verses: 

“There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you…” (al-An’am, 6/38).

“Of the cattle are some for burden and some for meat: eat what Allah hath provided for you…” (al-An’am, 6/142).

“He created you (all) from a single person: then created, of like nature, his mate; and he sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs …” (az-Zumar, 39/6).

“(Take) eight (head of cattle) in (four) pairs: of sheep a pair, and of goats a pair …” (al-An’am, 6/143)

“Of camels a pair, and oxen a pair…” (al-An’am, 6/144).

“It is Allah Who made cattle for you, that ye may use some for riding and some for food; And there are (other) advantages in them for you (besides); that ye may through them attain to any need (there may be) in your hearts; and on them and on ships ye are carried.” (al-Mu’min, 40/79-80).

“It is He who sends down rain from the sky: from it ye drink, and out of it (grows) the vegetation on which ye feed your cattle.” (an-Nahl, 16/10).

“And verily in cattle (too) will ye find an instructive sign. From what is within their bodies between excretions and blood, We produce, for your drink, milk, pure and agreeable to those who drink it.” (an-Nahl, 16/66).

“It is Allah Who made your habitations homes of rest and quiet for you; and made for you, out of the skins of animals, (tents for) dwellings, which ye find so light (and handy) when ye travel and when ye stop (in your travels); and out of their wool, and their soft fibers (between wool and hair), and their hair, rich stuff and articles of convenience (to serve you) for a time.” (an-Nahl, 16/80).

“And in cattle (too) ye have an instructive example: from within their bodies We produce (milk) for you to drink; there are, in them, (besides), numerous (other) benefits for you; and of their (meat) ye eat.” (al-Mu’minun, 23/21).

“And cattle He has created for you (men): from them ye derive warmth, and numerous benefits, and of their (meat) ye eat. And ye have a sense of pride and beauty in them as ye drive them home in the evening, and as ye lead them forth to pasture in the morning. And they carry your heavy loads to lands that ye could not (otherwise) reach except with souls distressed: for your Lord is indeed Most Kind, Most Merciful, And (He has created) horses, mules, and donkeys, for you to ride and use for show…” (an-Nahl, 16/5-8).

The following can be deduced from the verses above:

1. It is indicated that animals that are both on earth and in the sky are communities like us. In other words, attention is drawn to the different feelings, behaviors and shapes of each animal group. It is stated that they have different natures.

2. Allah created animals like horses, mules and donkeys to carry both people's belongings and people themselves from one place to another.

3. He put animals like sheep, goats, camels and cattle under man's order so that people will eat their meat and drink their and milk and use their wool for various purposes.

4. Many other beneficial aspects of animals like horses, cattle, sheep and goats are pointed out; and it is stated that there is a separate beauty in their arrival and departure in the morning and evening.

5. It is indicated that the animals listed above graze in the pastures that grow by the water given by Allah.

6. It is stated that sheep, goats, camels and cattle were produced for us. We make use of everything of those animals including their manure. Therefore, we are reminded that those animals were sent to people as mercy.

7. It is stated that two pairs of sheep, goats, camels and cattle were created.

Allah Almighty attracts attention to the creation of man first in verse six of the chapter of az-Zumar. He states that He created Adam, our ancestor, at the beginning and that He created his mate from him afterwards. Then, attention is drawn to the creation of sheep, goats, camels and cattle in the next part of the verse. He does not say, "We created them." He says "We created them in pairs." It is stated in the chapter of al-An’am again that sheep, goats, cattle and camels were created in pairs. That is, each one of these animals was created directly out of nothing. However, before we ask, "How will that the species of animals reproduce from this first single being?", Allah gives the answer immediately. "We created them with their mates (out of nothing)."

In the first creation, it was expected that the male and female would be created directly since law of reproduction could not come into effect. As a matter of fact, this is pointed out in the verse. After that, the continuation of human species has taken place in the realm of both plants and animals as well as humans based on the law of reproduction in which offspring is produced from a male and a female. 

Nevertheless, reproduction without mother and father, called "asexual reproduction", can be seen both in the plant kingdom and in the animal kingdom.

Thus, it is indicated that domestic animals are created directly with their mates in their own shapes and out of nothing. In other words, Allah tells us that He created sheep as sheep, camels as camels, cattle as cattle and goats as goats.

It would be wrong to think that domestic animals, which were created so purposefully and wisely for humans, were domesticated by trial and error. Besides, their natures, i.e. their inborn characteristics, show that they were put directly under the command of man. As a matter of fact, some wild animals return to their natural lives again after a while even if they are accustomed to humans for a while. Sometimes they even run away by savaging their tamers. However, Allah has given domestic animals such a characteristic and beauty that He shows that they are put under the command of man with their meek and obedient state.  

Hz. Adam’s sons Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cane) were shepherds and farmers. In other words, they plowed with oxen and grazed sheep and goats. These animals were put directly under the command of them, that is, humanity.  Hz. Adam was informed by Allah where and how to use them.

When the first man, Hz. Adam, came to the earth, he did not find the sheep in the pen and the horses in the stable. All the animals were waiting for people in the pastures. Hz. Adam took some animals to the stable, some to the pen and some to the coop based on what was notified to him. Today’s diversity emerged as a result of the methods of selection and improvement made among those animals.

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