22/10. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1636 — Horses and Reward
What Has Been Related About One Who Keeps And Prepares A Horse In The Cause Of Allah
Hadith About Horses Being Reward or Burden
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1636
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1636
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْخَيْلُ مَعْقُودٌ فِي نَوَاصِيهَا الْخَيْرُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ الْخَيْلُ لِثَلاَثَةٍ هِيَ لِرَجُلٍ أَجْرٌ وَهِيَ لِرَجُلٍ سِتْرٌ وَهِيَ عَلَى رَجُلٍ وِزْرٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِي لَهُ أَجْرٌ فَالَّذِي يَتَّخِذُهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيُعِدُّهَا لَهُ هِيَ لَهُ أَجْرٌ لاَ يَغِيبُ فِي بُطُونِهَا شَيْءٌ إِلاَّ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَجْرًا " . وَفِي الْحَدِيثِ قِصَّةٌ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَقَدْ رَوَى مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَ هَذَا .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "The Forelocks Of Horses Contain Good Until The Day Of Judgement. The Horse Is For Three (Purposes): It Is For One Man A Reward, And It Is For One Man A Shelter (From Poverty), And It Is From One Man A Burden. As For The One Who Acquires It For The Cause Of Allah And Then Prepares It For That; It Is For Him A Reward, Nothing Disappears Into Its Stomach Except That Allah Writes It For Him As A Reward." [Abu 'Eisa Said:] This Hadith Is Hasan Sahih. Malik Bin Anas Narrated Similar To This Hadith From Zaid Bin Aslam From Abu Salih From Abu Hurairah, From The Prophet (ﷺ).
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1636In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 18English translation : Vol. 3, Book 20, Hadith 1636
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1636
This Hadith explains that horses can be connected to different outcomes based on purpose. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said goodness is tied to the forelocks of horses until the Day of Judgement. He then said horses are for three types of people: reward for one, shelter for another, and burden for another. The wording included here explains the first type: the one who acquires and prepares a horse for Allah's cause. For that person, it is reward, and even what enters its stomach is written as reward. The Hadith teaches that intention and use matter deeply.
What we learn from this hadith
- Horses are described as having goodness tied to them until the Day of Judgement.
- A horse may be reward, shelter, or burden depending on the person.
- Preparing a horse for Allah's cause is described as reward.
- Even feeding the horse is written as reward in this wording.
