Sahih al-Bukhari #4756
Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh))
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ السَّمَّانِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الْخَيْلُ لِثَلاَثَةٍ، لِرَجُلٍ أَجْرٌ، وَلِرَجُلٍ سِتْرٌ، وَعَلَى رَجُلٍ وِزْرٌ، فَأَمَّا الَّذِي لَهُ أَجْرٌ فَرَجُلٌ رَبَطَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَأَطَالَ لَهَا فِي مَرْجٍ أَوْ رَوْضَةٍ، فَمَا أَصَابَتْ فِي طِيَلِهَا ذَلِكَ فِي الْمَرْجِ وَالرَّوْضَةِ، كَانَ لَهُ حَسَنَاتٍ، وَلَوْ أَنَّهَا قَطَعَتْ طِيَلَهَا فَاسْتَنَّتْ شَرَفًا أَوْ شَرَفَيْنِ كَانَتْ آثَارُهَا وَأَرْوَاثُهَا حَسَنَاتٍ لَهُ، وَلَوْ أَنَّهَا مَرَّتْ بِنَهَرٍ فَشَرِبَتْ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُرِدْ أَنْ يَسْقِيَ بِهِ كَانَ ذَلِكَ حَسَنَاتٍ لَهُ فَهْىَ لِذَلِكَ الرَّجُلِ أَجْرٌ، وَرَجُلٌ رَبَطَهَا تَغَنِّيًا وَتَعَفُّفًا وَلَمْ يَنْسَ حَقَّ اللَّهِ فِي رِقَابِهَا وَلاَ ظُهُورِهَا فَهْىَ لَهُ سِتْرٌ، وَرَجُلٌ رَبَطَهَا فَخْرًا وَرِئَاءً وَنِوَاءً فَهْىَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وِزْرٌ. فَسُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْحُمُرِ. قَالَ " مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ فِيهَا إِلاَّ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ الْفَاذَّةَ الْجَامِعَةَ {فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ * وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ}
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, " Horses are kept for one of three purposes: A man may keep them (for Allah's
Cause) to receive a reward in the Hereafter; another may keep them as a means of protection; and a
third may keep them to be a burden for him. As for the man for whom the horse is a source of reward,
he is the one who ties it for Allah's Cause, and he ties it with a long rope in a pasture or a garden, then,
whatever it eats or drinks in that pasture or garden will be added to his good deeds. And if it breaks its
rope and jumps over one or two hills, then, for all its footsteps and its manure, good deeds will be
written for him. And if it passes by a river and drinks of its water though its owner had no intention to
water it from that river, even then he will have good deeds written for him. So that horse will be (a
source of) reward for such a man.
If a man ties a horse for earning his livelihood and abstaining from asking others for help and he does
not forget Allah's right, i.e. pays its Zakat and gives it to be used in Allah's Cause, then that horse will
be a means of protection for him. But if a man ties it out of pride and to show off and to excite others,
then that horse will be a burden (of sins) for him." Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was asked regarding donkeys.
He replied, "Nothing has been revealed to me except this comprehensive Verse which includes
everything:
'So whoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a smallest ant) shall see it; and whoever
does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a smallest ant) shall see it.' (99.7-8)
Narrated by Narrated Abu Huraira:
Context
In this narration, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ discusses the various intentions behind keeping horses, categorizing them into three types: for reward, for protection, and as a burden. He elaborates on how the actions associated with each intention affect one's deeds in the Hereafter, emphasizing the importance of intention in all actions.
Modern Application
This principle can be applied today by reflecting on our intentions behind our actions. Whether engaging in work, hobbies, or community service, ensuring our intentions align with seeking goodness can lead to greater fulfillment and reward.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Good Deeds and Divine Reward because it highlights how intentions behind actions can lead to different outcomes in terms of rewards and responsibilities.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ الحَجِّ
Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌۭ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allah upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]; and when they are [lifeless] on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful.
سُورَةُ النَّحۡلِ
An-Nahl (The Bee)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَٱلْخَيْلَ وَٱلْبِغَالَ وَٱلْحَمِيرَ لِتَرْكَبُوهَا وَزِينَةًۭ ۚ وَيَخْلُقُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And [He created] the horses, mules and donkeys for you to ride and [as] adornment. And He creates that which you do not know.
سُورَةُ الأَنۡعَامِ
Al-An'aam (The Cattle)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ حَمُولَةًۭ وَفَرْشًۭا ۚ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
And of the grazing livestock are carriers [of burdens] and those [too] small. Eat of what Allah has provided for you and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
سُورَةُ الجُمُعَةِ
Al-Jumu'a (Friday)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ ٱلْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًۢا ۚ بِئْسَ مَثَلُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books]. Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allah. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.
سُورَةُ الحَشۡرِ
Al-Hashr (The Exile)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ مِنْهُمْ فَمَآ أَوْجَفْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ خَيْلٍۢ وَلَا رِكَابٍۢ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُسَلِّطُ رُسُلَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ
And what Allah restored [of property] to His Messenger from them - you did not spur for it [in an expedition] any horses or camels, but Allah gives His messengers power over whom He wills, and Allah is over all things competent.
Common Words
100 total82 unique10 repeated
ٱلله6x
لكم4x
من3x
على3x
لا2x
ولا2x
مثل2x
ٱلذين2x
ٱلقوم2x
وٱلله2x
وٱلبدن1x
جعلنها1x
شعئر1x
فيها1x
خير1x
فٱذكروا1x
ٱسم1x
عليها1x
صواف1x
فإذا1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #4756 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh)). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Abu Huraira:.