turkish → English transcript

In homes that feed cats — that is, for households that keep house cats

a certain fraction of the household's income

According to Hanafi fiqh, it is the right of the cat in the house

It sets a proportion and specifies the amount

If you keep a cat at home

it states that the cat is entitled to this portion of the household's income

In the Mecelle, the Ottoman civil code

It was seriously debated and enacted into law

The Divan — that is, in the parliament, the Imperial Council (Divan-ı Hümayun)

To the officials, the subaşıs — that is, the constables

they are ordered that if they notice a house cat on the streets

and if they see a frail, weak animal, they should follow it

They should determine which house it belongs to

and they issue a fine to that household. They failed to feed that animal

Why is that cat so thin?

Aren't these like a fairy tale?

This is mercy

Islamic civilization is founded on mercy and flourishes because of it

and the more mercy there is in a society,

the more civilized that society is

That's what being civilized means.

Civilization doesn't mean technology.

Technology is part of the machinery of civilization.

To people, to as many living beings, to the environment, to plants, to animals,

the more compassion is shown,

the level of civilization is measured by that.

That's compassion.

I once read a decree of Bayezid II.

A sultan's decree.

In the Mülki Osmani, the sultan issued a general circular to all butchers.

It says that Bayezid II is Yavuz's father.

So that means the 1500s.

Of course, after the customary, formulaic opening,

the sultan says: "It is my command."

From now on.

Winter is coming.

We're in autumn; winter is near.

Every butcher, instead of the tax he is required to pay to the state,

should give meat.

The officials who come to the butchers

take a certain percentage based on the amount of income.

They will take this small amount of meat

and this meat comes from the mountains

that are difficult to reach.

They will be taken to the peaks and left there.

This is my order.

Because, he says, in winter, above all the wolves

and other wild animals cannot find prey.

They go hungry.

God will hold us accountable for their rights.

It's like a fairy tale, isn't it?

Let the wolf have its due.

The rich have no rights at the moment.

America — the most civilized country.

Think about what happened to the Native Americans.

In winter, wolves can't hunt.

Let's help them.

The Sultan commands,

of the butchers' annual income

he collects some unknown fraction of it as meat.

and these meats

are taken to the high peaks the wolves might visit

and left there. Let them eat there.

How could there be more mercy?

Forget humans. Show mercy to animals.