And the Almighty's saying:
{Do you not see that Allah is exalted by whomever is within the heavens and the earth and the birds with wings outspread? Each has known its [manner of] prayer and exaltation, and Allah is Knowing of what they do.} 1
Those who believe in reincarnation leaned toward the interpretation that if a human soul was happy, obedient to God, characterized by true knowledge, and pure morals, it transitions after death into the bodies of kings. However, if it was wretched, ignorant, and disobedient, it transitions into the bodies of animals. The more wretched and deserving of punishment those souls are, the more they are transferred into the bodies of "lowlier" animals that endure more misery and toil. They argued for the validity of their claims using the explicit text of this verse; they maintain that the term "likeness" (amthālukum) in the verse necessitates equality in all essential attributes.
As for accidental or non-essential attributes, equality in them is not considered a requirement for establishing a "likeness." The reincarnationists affirmed this, stating that the souls of animals are aware of their Lord and cognizant of the misery or happiness they experience.