The Pious Cat (from Oman)
 
A cat was warming himself near a clay brazier which had been left out in the yard to be fanned by the breeze. Above his head a cat suddenly hurried along the edge of the roof. The cat looked up at the sound and exclaimed, "Ya Hafeedh! O Allah our Protector, preserve him!" "May Allah preserve nobody!" snapped the rat, somewhat testily. "Why this interest in my affairs? Am I dear to you, all at once? Best to leave me alone!"

Just then the rat tripped over a waterspout and fell to the ground, where the cat caught him firmly in his claws. "When I said Ya Hafeedh! you became angry and said May Allah protect nobody! Now you see what has come of your blasphemy!" "How right you are, my uncle cat!" said the rat. "I beg you, give me a chance to atone; let me recite the 'Fatiha' (from the Quran) one last time before I die! Better still, why don't you pray with me, and let us both say, 'May God bring this affair to a just conclusion!"

The cat raised his paws in the attitude of prayer, and the rat scampered to the safety of his hole. So the cat was left to scratch his face in remorse. And now whenever you see a cat rubbing his face, you will know that he is remembering the smell of that rat.