Al-Mufaddal said: "My Master, inform me about the cause of those whom God mentioned regarding their love for these classes [of beings]—how does it become of them?" 1 He said: "O Mufaddal, do you not see the muleteer hardier than the donkey, more enduring in carrying loads, and more similar to its temperament? When He transfers him into it, it does not grieve him—as a kindness from God, Mighty and Majestic—so that He may punish them for their sins from whence they know not and without them feeling estranged.
For if they felt estranged by their departure from human forms into others, they would have repented and sought forgiveness. Then, that acknowledgment [of Truth] occurred when Our Guardianship (Wilayatuna) was presented to them, yet they did not will it. Likewise, when He wills for one to be transferred from the forms of dogs and cattle to the forms of humans, Our Guardianship is presented to him. If He willed, He would place him as a dog with a king in his bed, so that he does not feel estranged by his departure from 'dog-ness' into humanity. Thus, you see him [the dog] having taken on manners and discipline, Refraining from urinating in the presence of the king while in a clean place; and you see the cat being struck and removed from the bed until it goes out to relieve itself, and the dog slipping away from that king to urinate."