The Virtue of Maintaining Horses, Racing and Sharp Shooting Contests
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1- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الْخَيْلَ كَانَتْ وُحُوشاً فِي بِلادِ الْعَرَبِ فَصَعِدَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَلَى جَبَلِ جِيَادٍ ثُمَّ صَاحَا أَلا هَلا أَلا هَلْ قَالَ فَمَا بَقِيَ فَرَسٌ إِلا أَعْطَاهُمَا بِيَدِهِ وَأَمْكَنَ مِنْ نَاصِيَتِهِ.
1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from more than one narrator from Aban from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that horses were wild in Arab lands. Once, Ibrahim and Isma’il ‘Alayhima al-Salam, climbed on Jiyad hills. They then called, £ 0 horses come home.’ He (the Imam) then said, ’Every horse then allowed the two of them to touch their legs and forehead.’”
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2- عَنْهُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْخَيْلُ مَعْقُودٌ فِي نَوَاصِيهَا الْخَيْرُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.
2. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Umar ibn Aban who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Goodness is written on the foreheads of the horses to remain up to the Day of Judgment.’”
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3- عَنْهُ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ الْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ مَعْقُودٌ فِي نَوَاصِي الْخَيْلِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.
3. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from ibn Faddal from Tha’labah from Mu’ammar who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, say the following: ‘All of goodness is written on the foreheads of the horses to remain up to the Day of Judgment.’”
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4- عَنْهُ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ جَدِّهِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ مَنْ رَبَطَ فَرَساً عَتِيقاً مُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ ثَلاثُ سَيِّئَاتٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَكُتِبَ لَهُ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ حَسَنَةً وَمَنِ ارْتَبَطَ هَجِيناً مُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ سَيِّئَتَانِ وَكُتِبَ لَهُ سَبْعُ حَسَنَاتٍ وَمَنِ ارْتَبَطَ بِرْذَوْناً يُرِيدُ بِهِ جَمَالا أَوْ قَضَاءَ حَوَائِجَ أَوْ دَفْعَ عَدُوٍّ عَنْهُ مُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ سَيِّئَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ وَكُتِبَ لَهُ سِتُّ حَسَنَاتٍ.
4. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from his grandfather, al-Hassan ibn Rashid from Ya’qub ibn Ja’far ibn Ibrahim al-Ja’fariy who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, saying, ‘If one maintains a horse of pure breed, three of his sins will be deleted every day and ten good deeds will be written in his favor. If one maintains a horse of mixed breed, two of his bad deeds will be deleted every day and seven good deeds will be written in his favor. If one maintains a mule for beauty or for his needs or use in his defense against the enemy, one of his sins will be deleted every day and six good deeds will be written in his favor.’”
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5- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ أَبِيهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَجْرَى الْخَيْلَ الَّتِي أُضْمِرَتْ مِنَ الْحَفْيَاءِ إِلَى مَسْجِدِ بَنِي زُرَيْقٍ وَسَبَّقَهَا مِنْ ثَلاثِ نَخَلاتٍ فَأَعْطَى السَّابِقَ عَذْقاً وَأَعْطَى الْمُصَلِّيَ عَذْقاً وَأَعْطَى الثَّالِثَ عَذْقاً. عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مِثْلَهُ سَوَاءً.
5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Talhah ibn Zayd from abu ‘Abd Allah, from his father, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, made certain horses that were kept on a special diet to race from al-Hafya’ to the Masjid of banu Zurayq and three of the selected ones came ahead of the others. He (the Messenger of Allah) rewarded one palm tree with its fruits to the one that came first, one palm tree with its fruits to al-Musalliy (the racing horse which comes second) and one palm tree with fruits to the one that had come third.” Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Talhah ibn Zayd from abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, a similar Hadith.”
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6- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ لا سَبَقَ إِلا فِي خُفٍّ أَوْ حَافِرٍ أَوْ نَصْلٍ يَعْنِي النِّضَالَ.
6. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, saying, ‘Contest is permissible only in the case of animals with Khuf (feet of camels), Hafir, (feet of horses and the like) and in the case of sharp-shooting.’”
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7- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ غِيَاثِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلام) أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَجْرَى الْخَيْلَ وَجَعَلَ سَبَقَهَا أَوَاقِيَّ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ.
7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim from abu ‘ Abd Allah, from his father, from Ali ibn Al-Husayn, recipients of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, made the reward for horse to race for a contest in the form of Awaqiy (a certain weight) of silver.”
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8- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِذَا حَرَنَتْ عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ دَابَّةٌ يَعْنِي أَقَامَتْ فِي أَرْضِ الْعَدُوِّ أَوْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ فَلْيَذْبَحْهَا وَلا يُعَرْقِبْهَا.
8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘If a horse, in enemy’s territory, or during Jihad in the way of Allah, refuses to move when led or driven, it should be slaughtered and one must not instead cut off its legs from the knees.’”
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9- وَبِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ مُؤْتَةَ كَانَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَى فَرَسٍ فَلَمَّا الْتَقَوْا نَزَلَ عَنْ فَرَسِهِ فَعَرْقَبَهَا بِالسَّيْفِ فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ عَرْقَبَ فِي الإسْلامِ.
9. He the narrator of the previous Hadith has narrated from through the chain of his narrators who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that on the day of Mutah, Ja’far ibn abu Talib had a horse. When they came face to face with the enemy he disembarked from his horse and cut the legs of his horse with his sword, and it was the first such incident in al-Islam.”
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10- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ سَعْدَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ تَحْضُرُهُ الْمَلائِكَةُ إِلا الرِّهَانَ وَمُلاعَبَةَ الرَّجُلِ أَهْلَهُ.
10. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Ishaq from Sa‘dan from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the angels do not attend anything except (horse racing) contest and man’s playing with his wife.”
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11- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلام) قَالَ الرَّمْيُ سَهْمٌ مِنْ سِهَامِ الإسْلامِ.
11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Talhah ibn Zayd from abu ‘Abd Allah who has narrated the following from his ancestors: “Sharp shooting is an arrow of the arrows of al-Islam.”
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12- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ طَرِيفٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِي قَوْلِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَمِنْ رِباطِ الْخَيْلِ قَالَ الرَّمْيُ.
12. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Imran ibn Musa‘ from al-Hassan ibn Tarif from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah in a marfu’ manner the following: “About the words of Allah, ‘Prepare and maintain whatever power and horses you can. . . .’ (8:60) the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “It is a reference to sharp-shooting.”
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13- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) ارْكَبُوا وَارْمُوا وَإِنْ تَرْمُوا أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ تَرْكَبُوا ثُمَّ قَالَ كُلُّ لَهْوِ الْمُؤْمِنِ بَاطِلٌ إِلا فِي ثَلاثٍ فِي تَأْدِيبِهِ الْفَرَسَ وَرَمْيِهِ عَنْ قَوْسِهِ وَمُلاعَبَتِهِ امْرَأَتَهُ فَإِنَّهُنَّ حَقٌّ أَلا إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَيُدْخِلُ فِي السَّهْمِ الْوَاحِدِ الثَّلاثَةَ الْجَنَّةَ عَامِلَ الْخَشَبَةِ وَالْمُقَوِّيَ بِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَالرَّامِيَ بِهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ.
13. Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Ali ibn ‘Isma’il in a marfu’ manner the following: “He (the Imam), ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘You should learn horse riding and sharp-shooting. I like your learning sharp-shooting more than your horse riding.’ He then said, ‘All playing of believers’ is falsehood except three things: horse training, sharp-shooting from his bow and playing with his wife because they are right. However, Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, with the arrow sends three to paradise: one who makes the arrow, one who provides support with it for the cause of Allah and one who shoots it for the cause of Allah.’”
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14- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لا سَبَقَ إِلا فِي خُفٍّ أَوْ حَافِرٍ أَوْ نَصْلٍ يَعْنِي النِّضَالَ.
14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hafs who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Contest is permissible only in racing animals with Khuf (feet like camel) or Hafir (with feet like horses and the like) and in sharp-shooting.”
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15- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ الْبَخْتَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَحْضُرُ الرَّمْيَ وَالرِّهَانَ.
15. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Hafs ibn af-Bakhtariy who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, would take part in horse racing contests and sharp-shooting.”
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16- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَغَارَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ عَلَى سَرْحِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَنَادَى فِيهَا مُنَادٍ يَا سُوءَ صَبَاحَاهْ فَسَمِعَهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِي الْخَيْلِ فَرَكِبَ فَرَسَهُ فِي طَلَبِ الْعَدُوِّ وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ أَصْحَابِهِ لَحِقَهُ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ عَلَى فَرَسٍ لَهُ وَكَانَ تَحْتَ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) سَرْجٌ دَفَّتَاهُ لِيفٌ لَيْسَ فِيهِ أَشَرٌ وَلا بَطَرٌ فَطَلَبَ الْعَدُوَّ فَلَمْ يَلْقَوْإ؛ أَحَداً وَتَتَابَعَتِ الْخَيْلُ فَقَالَ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ الْعَدُوَّ قَدِ انْصَرَفَ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ أَنْ نَسْتَبِقَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَاسْتَبَقُوا فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) سَابِقاً عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ أَنَا ابْنُ الْعَوَاتِكِ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ إِنَّهُ لَهُوَ الْجَوَادُ الْبَحْرُ يَعْنِي فَرَسَهُ.
16. Aii ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Tafhah ibn Zayd who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the pagans attacked the pasture area of al-Madinah and an announcer announced, ‘How bad is this morning!’ The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, heard it when among people with horses. He rode his horse in pursuit of the enemy. The first of his companions who reached him was abu Qatadah on his horse. Both sides of the saddle of the horse of the Messenger of Allah were made of palm tree fibers and it was not fanciful at all. They searched the enemy but did not find anyone and the group of people on horses came one after the other. Abu Qatadah said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, the enemy has turned back; if you consider it proper allow us to race our horses for a contest.’ He said, ‘That is fine.’ They raced and the Messenger of Allah became the winner among them. He then turned to them and said, ‘I am the descendent of ‘Awatik, three women from Quraysh called ‘Atikah.’ This is al-Jawad al-Bahr (fine horse of the sea that runs in wide manner).”’