Ass

In Islamic and Persian culture, asses carry much of the same connotations as they do in Western culture, being "symbolic for a person of lower class, especially in North Africa, donkeys are regarded as the epitome of sensuality, stupidity, and rudeness. Only very exceptionally can a person be cured of such a crude nature and learn to behave like a well-educated human being. (Knappert and Knappert 456). Hence, at being transformed into an ass, Melech Mohammed has hit rock bottom. The form of the ass is a punishment perfectly tailored to the character flaws he has all too blatantly demonstrated: his uncontrollable passion for Gheti Afroz, his aggressive advances toward her, and his evident inability to learn from his previous failings.

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References

Jan and Liesje Knappert. lslamic Legends: Histories of the Heroes, Saints, and Prophets of Islam.