28/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3563 — Horse Ownership and Intention
"Goodness Is Tied To The Forelocks Of Horses Until The Day of Judgment
Horse Ownership in Islam Depends on Intention and Use
Sunan an-Nasai : 3563
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3563
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، وَالْحَارِثُ بْنُ مِسْكِينٍ، قِرَاءَةً عَلَيْهِ وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - عَنِ ابْنِ الْقَاسِمِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ السَّمَّانِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الْخَيْلُ لِرَجُلٍ أَجْرٌ وَلِرَجُلٍ سَتْرٌ وَعَلَى رَجُلٍ وِزْرٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِي هِيَ لَهُ أَجْرٌ فَرَجُلٌ رَبَطَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَأَطَالَ لَهَا فِي مَرْجٍ أَوْ رَوْضَةٍ فَمَا أَصَابَتْ فِي طِيَلِهَا ذَلِكَ فِي الْمَرْجِ أَوِ الرَّوْضَةِ كَانَ لَهُ حَسَنَاتٌ وَلَوْ أَنَّهَا قَطَعَتْ طِيَلَهَا ذَلِكَ فَاسْتَنَّتْ شَرَفًا أَوْ شَرَفَيْنِ كَانَتْ آثَارُهَا " . وَفِي حَدِيثِ الْحَارِثِ " وَأَرْوَاثُهَا حَسَنَاتٍ لَهُ وَلَوْ أَنَّهَا مَرَّتْ بِنَهَرٍ فَشَرِبَتْ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُرِدْ أَنْ تُسْقَى كَانَ ذَلِكَ حَسَنَاتٍ فَهِيَ لَهُ أَجْرٌ وَرَجُلٌ رَبَطَهَا تَغَنِّيًا وَتَعَفُّفًا وَلَمْ يَنْسَ حَقَّ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي رِقَابِهَا وَلاَ ظُهُورِهَا فَهِيَ لِذَلِكَ سَتْرٌ وَرَجُلٌ رَبَطَهَا فَخْرًا وَرِيَاءً وَنِوَاءً لأَهْلِ الإِسْلاَمِ فَهِيَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وِزْرٌ " . وَسُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْحَمِيرِ فَقَالَ " لَمْ يَنْزِلْ عَلَىَّ فِيهَا شَىْءٌ إِلاَّ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ الْجَامِعَةُ الْفَاذَّةُ { فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ * وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ } " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "Horses may bring reward to a man, or they may be a means of protection, or they may be a burden (of sin). As for that which brings reward, it is a man who keeps it for the cause of Allah and ties it with a long rope in a pasture or a garden; whatever it eats or drinks in that pasture or garden will count as good deeds for him.If it breaks its rope and jumps over one or two hills, its footsteps" -and according to the Hadith of Al-Harith, "its dung will count as good deeds for him. If it passes by a river and drinks from it, even though (its owner) did not intend to give it water from that river, that will also bring him reward.If a man keeps a horse in order to earn an independent living and avoid asking others for help, and he does not forget his duty toward Allah with regard to their (the horses') necks and backs, then they will be a means of protection for him. If a man keeps horses out of pride, to show off before others and to fight the Muslims, then that will be a burden (of sin) for him."The Prophet was asked about donkeys and he said: "Nothing has been revealed to me concerning them except this Verse which is comprehensive in meaning: 'So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it.'"
[1] Az-Zalzalah 99:7-8.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3563In-book reference : Book 28, Hadith 3English translation : Vol. 4, Book 28, Hadith 3593
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3563
This detailed hadith about horse ownership in Islam shows three outcomes: reward, protection, and sin. A horse kept for the cause of Allah brings reward, and the text counts what it eats, drinks, steps on, and leaves behind as good deeds for its owner. A horse kept to earn an independent living and avoid asking others can be a means of protection, provided the owner does not forget Allah’s right regarding its neck and back. A horse kept for pride, showing off, or fighting Muslims becomes a burden of sin. When asked about donkeys, the Prophet quoted the verse that every atom’s weight of good or evil will be seen. The hadith therefore connects ownership with purpose, conduct, responsibility, and final accountability.
What we learn from this hadith
- The purpose behind keeping a horse affects whether it brings reward, protection, or sin.
- Work that helps a person avoid asking others may serve as protection.
- The owner must not forget duties connected with the animal.
- Pride, showing off, and fighting Muslims are described as sinful uses.
