Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 136, April 2016, pp. 1-35. | Page 12

12
lion is weak inside the deep water; even a boy can ride on his back and grasp his
ears, pushing him under the water. Lions fear fire, and loud noises; and they can
live peacefully (coexistence) with tigers, but their enemies are the leopards. Lions
and Leopards can fight each other for a long period of time during the day,
without killing each other. Lions and Tigers can even help each other, fighting
the Leopard. Al-Jahez adds that wild boar may kill a lion with its tusks, and the
buffalo can kill a lion with its horns (Khalaf-von Jaffa, 2006).
Abi „Othman Al-Jahez wrote about the wide distribution of the lion in Iraq
especially in Mosul, Alkufa, Siwad Al-Iraq and the banks of the Euphrates River.
He adds that lions can live for many long years (Khalaf-von Jaffa, 2006).
Abi Abdullah Al-Hussain bin Ahmad bin Khalaweh bin Hamdan (died 980), a
famous Arabic Linguist, mentioned in his Reference booklet “Asma‟ Al-Asad”
(The Names of the Lion), about 500 names and descriptions for the lion, and
some names for the lioness, the cubs and lion places. The Arabic Linguist “Ali
bin Qassem bin Ja‟far Al-Laghawi” added another 130 names and descriptions in
his booklet “Fae‟t Asma‟ Al-Asad” (The missing Names of the Lion). The two
booklets were revised by Dr. Mahmoud Jassem Al-Darwish in 1989 (Khalaf-von
Jaffa, 2006).
Note: The two booklets (in Arabic) are published at the end of this article (pp. 3335).
Zakariya bin Mohammed bin Mahmoud Al-Qazwini (1203-1283), one of the
Greatest Islamic Zoologists, mentioned in his Reference Book “Ajae‟b AlMakhluqat wa Gharae‟b Al-Mawjudat” (Marvels of Things Created and
Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing), the presence of the lion in Qurna, on
Naher (River) Ja‟far (in Iraq), and described how the lions were attacking the
men (cane cutters) who killed a young lion, and how they (the men) defended
themselves by cutting the tail of one lion, then this lion attacked the other lions,
and then all the lions flew into the desert (Khalaf-von Jaffa, 2006).
Al-Qazwini in his Reference Book “Ajae‟b Al-Makhluqat wa Gharae‟b AlMawjudat” writes about the lions‟ behaviour; and also on the medical benefits
when using the different lion body parts in curing different diseases (Khalaf-von
Jaffa, 2006).
Kamal Al-Deen Mohammed bin Mousa bin „Issa bin Ali Al-Dumairi (1341-1405),
one of the Greatest Arabic and Islamic Zoologists, wrote in his Reference Book
“Hayat Al-Haywan Al-Kubra” (The Great Animal Life), that the lion has more
than 630 names and descriptions in Arabic, like: Alasad , Usama, Albayhas,
Alnaaj, Aljakhdub, Alharth, Haydara, Aldawas, Alri‟ebal, Zafar, Alsabe‟e,
Alsa‟eb, Aldurgham, Aldaygham, Altaythar, Ala‟nbas, Alghadanfar, Alfarafisa,
Qaswara [this name was mentioned in the Holy Qur‟an], Kahmas, Allaith,
Almutaanes, Almutahayeb, Alhirmas, Alward, Abu Alabtal, Abu Hafs, Abu
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 136 – April 2016