Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 58, October 2006, pp. 1-13. | Page 7

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came also to the water ponds and river banks to feed on crabs, toads, terrapins and turtles.
The lion also attacks and feeds on cheetahs; and they feed on carrions too. The Iraqi lion
can also attack and feed on domesticated Indian elephants, but wild elephants are strong
and can defend themselves. Lions also attacks and feed on camels. Al-Jahez writes that
old lions attacks and devour humans, because the old ones are weak and cannot hunt
animals. He wrote also that the lion eats salt, because their body needs it; and they can
bear hunger and thirst for a long time. Al-Jahez writes that the Indian Lions are weaker
than Iraqi Lions; and he adds that the 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.
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.
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 AlDarwish in 1989.
Note: The two booklets (in Arabic) are published at the end of this article (pp. 14-16).
Zakariya bin Mohammed bin Mahmoud Al-Qazwini (1203-1283), one of the Greatest
Islamic Zoologists, mentioned in his Reference Book “Ajae‟b Al-Makhluqat 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.
Al-Qazwini in his Reference Book “Ajae‟b Al-Makhluqat wa Gharae‟b Al-Mawjudat”
writes about the lions‟ behaviour; and also on the medical benefits when using the
different lion body parts in curing different diseases.
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 AlHaywan 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‟