Messengers and Communicators
The Hoopoe (Hudhud) of Solomon
Birds are divine soldiers (Surah Al-Fil, 105:3-5)
First teacher to humanity:
Allah sends a raven that scratches the ground, showing Cain how to bury his brother. (Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:31) -
Proof of Resurrection and Symbol of Life
To satisfy his heart, Abraham asks Allah to show him how He gives life to the dead. He is commanded to take four birds, tame them, cut them into pieces, and place the parts on different hills. When Abraham calls them, the birds reassemble and fly back to him. (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:260)
Jesus is given the miracle of fashioning the form of a bird from clay, breathing into it, and having it become a living bird "by Allah's permission." (Surah Al 'Imran, 3:49; Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:110)
Worship and exalting by submission.
"Do you not see that Allah is exalted by whomever is within the heavens and the earth and [by] the birds with wings spread [in flight]? Each [of them] has known his [means of] prayer and exalting [Him]..." (Surah An-Nur, 24:41)
They join Prophet David (Dawud) in singing praises to Allah, symbolizing a universe in perfect harmony and worship. (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:79)
Metaphors for Destiny and the Human Soul
The Arabic word for bird, Tā'ir, is linguistically related to the word for one's deeds or destiny.
Verse: "And [for] every person We have imposed his ṭā'irahu (fate/deed) upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will find spread open." (Surah Al-Isra, 17:13)
Symbolism: The word ṭā'ir (literally "flying thing" or "bird") is used here to mean one's destiny or record of deeds. In Sufi mysticism, the bird is also a common and powerful metaphor for the human soul, and its flight represents the soul's spiritual journey and longing to return to the divine.