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Argument 13 of 20 · Sunan an-Nasā'ī

Donkey/Devil Cosmology (Nasa'i Wording)

Nasa'i 1623 (parallel Bukhari 3303)
Nasa'i 1623 — Records the same teaching as Bukhari 3303 (entry b16): cocks crow at angels, donkeys bray at devils. The Nasa'i version provides cross-collection attestation for the canonical animal-spirit cosmology.

Nasa'i 1623 reinforces the cock-and-donkey hadith treated under Bukhari 3303 (entry b16). The substantive issues are addressed there. The Nasa'i contribution: cross-collection attestation confirms the teaching is canonical Sunni doctrine, preserved across multiple major collections.

The analysis from entry b16 applies fully here.

  1. P1. Nasa'i 1623 preserves the cock-and-donkey hadith with content paralleling Bukhari 3303.
  2. P2. The hadith is in multiple canonical collections — cross-collection consistency is high.
  3. P3. The teaching attributes animal vocalisations to perception of supernatural beings — a pre-scientific cosmology.
  4. P4. The framework reflects 7th-century Arabian folk-cosmology, not divine teaching about biology.
  5. P5. The teaching generates ritual responses (asking blessings on cock-crow, seeking refuge on donkey-bray) still practised by Muslims.
  6. P6. The framework is part of a broader pattern of canonical hadith treating natural phenomena as supernatural agents.
  7. P7. An omniscient God would not teach a final prophet that animal vocalisations are responses to invisible supernatural entities. (See entry b16.)

Nasa'i 1623 reinforces the cock-and-donkey hadith with cross-collection attestation. (See entry b16 for substantive analysis.)

Common Muslim response · 1

The hadith reflects Muhammad's spiritual insight into creation.

Counter-response

The empirical claim is unsupported by ethology. (See b16.)

Common Muslim response · 2

Mindfulness pedagogy.

Counter-response

Pedagogy without false metaphysics is possible. (See b16.)

Common Muslim response · 3

Science cannot rule out angels and devils.

Counter-response

The empirical claim about animal causation is testable and false. (See b16.)

Common Muslim response · 4

Ancient wisdom we don't fully understand.

Counter-response

Unfalsifiable framing. (See b16.)

Common Muslim response · 5

Minor matters not affecting core doctrine.

Counter-response

They affect core methodology. (See b16.)