Chapter on Horses, Keeping Them, and the First to Ride Them

Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 2|Book 3|Chapter 24

Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

Volume 2, Book 3, Chapter 24

Chapter on Horses, Keeping Them, and the First to Ride Them
6 Aḥadīth
Ḥadīth 1

2459 - قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ : «اَلْخَيْلُ مَعْقُودٌ بِنَوَاصِيهَا اَلْخَيْرُ إِلَى يَوْمِ اَلْقِيَامَةِ وَ اَلْمُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كَالْبَاسِطِ يَدَهُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ لاَ يَقْبِضُهَا ». فإذا أعددت شيئا فأعده أقرح أرثم محجل الثلاثة، طلق اليمين، كميتا ثم أغر تسلم وتغنم.

Hadith.2459 - The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him and his family) said: "Goodness is tied to the forelocks of horses until the Day of Resurrection, and the one who spends on them in the way of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious, is like someone extending their hand in charity without withdrawing it." Imam (as) further said: "If you prepare a horse, choose one that is lean and swift, with three white markings (legs), a free right side, a chestnut color, and a white blaze on its forehead. This will bring you safety and success."

Ḥadīth 2

2460 - وَ رَوَى بَكْرُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ اَلْجَعْفَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي اَلْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ : «اَلْخَيْلُ عَلَى كُلِّ مَنْخِرٍ مِنْهَا شَيْطَانٌ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُلْجِمَهَا فَلْيُسَمِّ ».

Hadith.2460 - Bakr ibn Salih narrated from Sulaiman ibn Ja‘far al-Ja‘fari, from Abu al-Hasan (as), who said: "I heard him say: 'Every horse has a devil on its nostrils. So, when any of you wishes to bridle it, let them say Bismillah (In the name of Allah (swt)).'"

Ḥadīth 3

2461 - قَالَ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ : «مَنْ رَبَطَ فَرَساً عَتِيقاً مُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ عَشْرُ سَيِّئَاتٍ وَ كُتِبَتْ لَهُ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ حَسَنَةً فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَ مَنِ اِرْتَبَطَ هَجِيناً مُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ سَيِّئَتَانِ وَ كُتِبَتْ لَهُ تِسْعُ حَسَنَاتٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَ مَنِ اِرْتَبَطَ بِرْذَوْناً يُرِيدُ بِهِ جَمَالاً أَوْ قَضَاءَ حَاجَةٍ أَوْ دَفْعَ عَدُوٍّ مُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ سَيِّئَةٌ وَ كُتِبَتْ لَهُ سِتُّ حَسَنَاتٍ وَ مَنِ اِرْتَبَطَ فَرَساً أَشْقَرَ أَغَرَّ أَوْ أَقْرَحَ فَإِنْ كَانَ أَغَرَّ سَائِلَ اَلْغُرَّةِ بِهِ وَضَحٌ فِي قَوَائِمِهِ فَهُوَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ بَيْتَهُ فَقْرٌ مَا دَامَ ذَاكَ اَلْفَرَسُ فِيهِ وَ مَا دَامَ فِي مِلْكِ صَاحِبِهِ لاَ يَدْخُلُ بَيْتَهُ حَيْفٌ ».

Hadith.2461 - And I heard him (Imam (as)) say: "Whoever keeps a noble horse (‘atiq), ten sins are erased from them and eleven good deeds are written for them every day. Whoever keeps a mixed-breed horse (hajin), two sins are erased and nine good deeds are written for them every day. Whoever keeps a workhorse (bardhawn), intending it for beauty, fulfilling needs, or defense against an enemy, one sin is erased and six good deeds are written for them every day. Whoever keeps a chestnut horse with a white blaze (ashqar agharr), or one with a white mark on its forehead and legs (aqrah), and especially if it has a prominent white blaze and brightness on its limbs, that horse is most beloved to me. As long as that horse is in its owner’s possession and house, neither poverty will enter that house nor injustice touch it."

Ḥadīth 4

2462 - قَالَ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ : أَهْدَى أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لِرَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَفْرَاسٍ مِنَ اَلْيَمَنِ فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ «يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ أَهْدَيْتُ لَكَ أَرْبَعَةَ أَفْرَاسٍ» قَالَ «صِفْهَا» قَالَ «هِيَ أَلْوَانٌ مُخْتَلِفَةٌ» قَالَ «فِيهَا وَضَحٌ» قَالَ «نَعَمْ» قَالَ «فِيهَا أَشْقَرُ بِهِ وَضَحٌ» قَالَ «نَعَمْ» قَالَ «فَأَمْسِكْهُ لِي» وَ قَالَ «فِيهَا كُمَيْتَانِ أَوْضَحَانِ» قَالَ «أَعْطِهِمَا اِبْنَيْكَ» قَالَ «وَ اَلرَّابِعُ أَدْهَمُ بَهِيمٌ» قَالَ «بِعْهُ وَ اِسْتَخْلِفْ قِيمَتَهُ لِعِيَالِكَ إِنَّمَا يُمْنُ اَلْخَيْلِ فِي ذَوَاتِ اَلْأَوْضَاحِ ».

Hadith.2462 - And I heard him (Imam (as)) say: Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) gifted four horses from Yemen to the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him and his family). He came to him and said: "O Messenger of Allah (swt), I have gifted you four horses." The Messenger of Allah (swt) said: "Describe them." Imam (as) replied: "They are of different colors." The Prophet (sw) asked: "Is there one with a white blaze (wadhah)?" Imam (as) said: "Yes." The Prophet (sw) asked: "Is there a chestnut (ashqar) with a blaze?" Imam (as) said: "Yes." The Prophet (sw) said: "Keep it for me." Then the Prophet (sw) asked: "Are there two bay (kumayt) horses with blazes?" Imam (as) said: "Yes." The Prophet (sw) said: "Give them to your two sons." Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) continued: "And the fourth is a solid black (adham baheem)." The Prophet (sw) said: "Sell it and use its price for the needs of your family. The blessing of horses lies in those with white blazes."

Ḥadīth 5

2463 - قَالَ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ : «مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنْ مَنْزِلِهِ أَوْ مَنْزِلٍ غَيْرِ مَنْزِلِهِ فِي أَوَّلِ اَلْغَدَاةِ فَلَقِيَ فَرَساً أَشْقَرَ بِهِ أَوْضَاحٌ بُورِكَ لَهُ فِي يَوْمِهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ بِهِ غُرَّةٌ سَائِلَةٌ فَهُوَ اَلْعَيْشُ وَ لَمْ يَلْقَ فِي يَوْمِهِ ذَلِكَ إِلاَّ سُرُوراً وَ قَضَى اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَاجَتَهُ ».

Hadith.2463 - And I heard him (Imam (as)) say: "Whoever leaves their house, or any other house, early in the morning and encounters a chestnut horse (ashqar) with white markings (awdah), their day will be blessed. If the horse has a prominent flowing white blaze (ghurra saila), it signifies prosperity, and they will experience joy throughout that day. Moreover, Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious, will fulfill their needs."

Ḥadīth 6

2464 - وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : «كَانَتِ اَلْخَيْلُ وُحُوشاً فِي بِلاَدِ اَلْعَرَبِ وَ صَعِدَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ وَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَى أَبِي قُبَيْسٍ فَنَادَيَا أَلاَ هَلاَ أَلاَ هَلُمَّ فَمَا بَقِيَ فَرَسٌ إِلاَّ أَعْطَى بِقِيَادِهِ وَ أَمْكَنَ مِنْ نَاصِيَتِهِ ».

Hadith.2464 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Horses were once wild in the lands of the Arabs. Ibrahim (as) and Isma‘il (as) ascended Mount Abi Qubays and called out: 'Come! Come forward!' No horse remained except that it came forward, offering its reins and submitting its forelock."