Four Birds of Abraham

The Four Birds of Abraham, or the Four Birds, refers to the story of four birds that Prophet Abraham (a) slaughtered and then witnessed their revival. This event is narrated in Qur'an 2:260 and is considered one of the extraordinary events in the life of Prophet Abraham (a).

In Islamic traditions, it is recounted that while passing by the sea, Prophet Abraham (a) observed the scattered remnants of a dead animal being eaten by other animals. This scene prompted him to contemplate the mechanism of resurrection, leading him to ask God to demonstrate how the dead are revived. God commanded him to select four distinct types of birds, dismember them, place their parts upon separate mountains, and then call out to them. Upon issuing this call, the birds reassembled from the scattered pieces and returned to life. This event solidified the certainty within the heart of Prophet Abraham (a) regarding God's omnipotence in reviving the dead.

While some scholars have interpreted this story as allegorical, most exegetes reject this perspective, maintaining that the event was a literal occurrence. Among Shi'a exegeses, Tafsir-i tasnim offers a detailed discussion of this subject.

There are diverging views regarding the specific species of the four birds. Based on a narration from Imam al-Sadiq (a), the birds were a peacock, a rooster, a pigeon, and a crow. In Sunni sources, the peacock is also cited; however, there is disagreement regarding the remaining three, with birds such as the rooster, pigeon, crow, eagle, duck, hoopoe, and ostrich being suggested.

Certain exegetes have considered that these four birds act as symbols for specific human moral traits: the peacock represents arrogance, the rooster symbolizes Lust, the pigeon signifies amusement and negligence, and the crow stands as a symbol for distant and prolonged worldly hopes.