The Tale of the Fox’s Tail is False
One day I was giving a lesson to my students. The topic was envy (ḥasad), and I wanted its evil reality to be impressed upon their hearts and minds. Dry admonition alone seldom leaves an impact. So, I began with a story:
It is said that a fox once lost its tail. When it came into the jungle, the deer laughed aloud, the monkeys mocked, the rabbits pointed their fingers. Poor creature, lowering its gaze in shame, took a few steps, only for waves of laughter to follow it. One day someone asked the fox: “O poor one! What do you desire? That your tail be restored, or that the tails of all animals be cut off?” The fox, its voice soaked with the poison of envy, replied: “What do I care for my own tail? My only wish is that all the others lose theirs, so that the disgrace I suffer today may tomorrow befall the rest.”
I had barely finished the tale when suddenly the door opened and my old companion, a lover of research, Mir Ṣāḥib, entered. Part of my story had reached his ears, and he burst out: “This is nothing but fiction! The fox’s tail was never cut off.”
Hearing this, I was dumbfounded. Before my students it felt as if my tongue faltered and my honour was scattered in the dust. After the class, I called Mir Ṣāḥib aside and said: “Sir! You have publicly shamed me. This story has been repeated for generations. How could you dismiss it outright?”
Mir Ṣāḥib smiled and said: “Dear friend! I had read your article ‘The Tortoise’s Victory is but a Fable.’ From it grew within me a suspicion that most tales attributed to animals are fabrications. So, I set out with the intent of investigation and reached the fox’s dwelling. What I found was its tail intact, waving gracefully like ambergris. I asked: ‘O fox! People say your tail was once cut off.’ The fox laughed heartily and replied: ‘My tail was never cut. It was man’s tail that was lost. But since he could not endure the shame, he shifted the blame onto me.’”
Then Mir Ṣāḥib continued: “The fox further said: When man first came into the world, he too had a tail. He used it in marvellous ways. Sometimes as a support, sometimes as play, even adorning it with a ring. Then one day a calamity struck, and his tail was severed. Man drowned in grief, until a pious elder, a saint whose supplications were answered, came to him and said: ‘O son of Adam! If you wish, I will pray for your tail to be restored. Or if you prefer, I will make the tails of all animals vanish.’ At that moment envy flared within man’s heart, and he said: ‘I care not for my tail. My desire is that all animals be deprived of theirs.’ The elder, perceiving the darkness of his heart, restored nothing and cut nothing. From that day man became the tailless creature, and envy was branded upon his forehead.”
I responded: “Do you build such a grave charge against man merely on the testimony of a fox?”
Mir Ṣāḥib answered gravely: “No. I confirmed with all the animals of the forest. They unanimously testified that the fox’s tail had never been cut. Moreover, they said man has invented false tales not only against the fox but against all of us. And in my view two proofs are decisive: First, the disease of envy is found only in man; animals are free from this vice. Second, all the animals have unanimously supported the fox. Now there remains no room for doubt in this matter.”
I said: “But sir, if you weigh every tale in Kalīlah wa Dimnah on the scale of historical scrutiny, then from where shall we learn of the wit and understanding of animals? That book is the very lantern that revealed to us their intelligence. If you declare even that baseless, how then shall animal reason be established?”
With dignity Mir Ṣāḥib replied: “My quest is to separate truth from falsehood and present it before the world. Wherever the intelligence and discernment of animals proves true, I shall accept it. But where man has fabricated stories to cover his own weaknesses, there I shall expose him. None can stop me from this noble service.”
I remained silent for a long time, pondering. Truly, Mir Ṣāḥib spoke rightly. Animals remain upon the simplicity of their nature, while man excels in thrusting his shortcomings upon others. His tail may have been lost, but the tail of envy within his heart grows longer each day. This inner fire has, from the dawn of creation until now, scorched the human race.
Would that man understood that burning at others’ blessings will never end his deprivation; it only deepens his wound. Would that he realised envy’s flame first consumes the one who harbours it, before its smoke reaches others. If he cleanses his heart from this curse, then perhaps his lost tail will not return—but his humanity may yet be preserved.
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Disclaimer: This article was translated by AI. Original post: https://t.me/DrAkramNadwi/6768
