28/4. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3567 — Meaning of a Shikal Horse
Shikal Horses
What Is a Shikal Horse? The Hadith Definition
Sunan an-Nasai : 3567
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3567
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَلْمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ كَرِهَ الشِّكَالَ مِنَ الْخَيْلِ . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الشِّكَالُ مِنَ الْخَيْلِ أَنْ تَكُونَ ثَلاَثُ قَوَائِمَ مُحَجَّلَةً وَوَاحِدَةٌ مُطْلَقَةً أَوْ تَكُونَ الثَّلاَثَةُ مُطْلَقَةً وَرِجْلٌ مُحَجَّلَةً وَلَيْسَ يَكُونُ الشِّكَالُ إِلاَّ فِي رِجْلٍ وَلاَ يَكُونُ فِي الْيَدِ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet used to dislike the Shikal among horses.
[1] See the author's explanation after the two narrations, and Shikâl also refers to the animal that was "hobbled."Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3567In-book reference : Book 28, Hadith 7English translation : Vol. 4, Book 28, Hadith 3597
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3567
This hadith explains the Shikal horse marking as well as reporting that the Prophet disliked it. Abu Hurairah narrates the dislike, and Abu Abdur-Rahman then defines the term. A Shikal horse may have three legs with white markings and one leg without them, or three unmarked legs and one hind leg with a white marking. The note adds that Shikal occurs in a leg and not in a foreleg. This detail makes the narration useful for readers searching for the meaning of Shikal in horses. The text does not state why this pattern was disliked, so an explanation should not invent a reason. Its clear teaching is limited to the reported dislike and the specific physical pattern described by the narrator.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet is reported to have disliked the Shikal pattern.
- Shikal involves one leg differing from the other three in white markings.
- The explanatory note places the pattern in a hind leg.
- The narration gives no reason for the dislike.
