Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 2583 in the Book of Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad).

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#2582

#2583

Sunan Abu Dawud

#2584

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Sunan Abu Dawud #2583

Q: What is Sunan Abu Dawud 2583 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad)) states: "Qatadah said “Taking another horse behind one’s horse to urge it on and taking another horse at one’s side are (done) in a horse race."

Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad)

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ الْجَلَبُ وَالْجَنَبُ فِي الرِّهَانِ ‏.‏

Qatadah said “Taking another horse behind one’s horse to urge it on and taking another horse at one’s side are (done) in a horse race.

Context

This hadith illustrates the practice of horse racing, where one horse is used to urge another forward. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) acknowledges this practice, indicating that it was a common activity among the people. It reflects the cultural context of sports and competition in the early Islamic community.

Modern Application

In contemporary life, this principle can be seen in various sports and competitive activities where teamwork and encouragement are vital. It highlights the importance of supporting one another to achieve common goals, whether in sports or other collaborative efforts.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Conduct because it reflects the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) acknowledgment of cultural practices and sportsmanship within the community.

Prophetic Conduct