14 - Chapter on What Has Been Reported About Going Out at Times of Panic

1780 - Mahmud ibn Ghaylan narrated to us, Abu Dawud al-Tayalisi narrated to us, Shu'bah informed us, from Qatadah: Anas ibn Malik narrated to us, saying: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, rode a horse belonging to Abu Talhah called Mandub, and said: "There was no panic, and indeed we found it to be a sea."(1)

Regarding this chapter, there is also a narration from 'Amr(2) ibn al-'As.

This hadith is hasan sahih.

1781 - Muhammad ibn Bashshar narrated to us, Muhammad ibn Ja'far and Ibn Abi 'Adiyy narrated to us--------------------------------------------
(1) A sahih hadith, recorded by al-Bukhari (2627), Muslim (2307), Abu Dawud (4988), Ibn Majah (2772), al-Nasa'i in "al-Kubra" (8829) and in "Amal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah" (1065). It is also in "Musnad Ahmad" (12494) and (12744), and "Sahih Ibn Hibban" (5798) and (6369).

His saying: "And indeed we found it to be a sea" — al-Baghawi said: He means the horse, comparing it to the sea, i.e., its running is like the running of the sea, or that it surges in its running like the sea when it swells.

In this hadith there is permission for expansiveness in speech, and comparing a thing to another thing by virtue of one of its meanings, even if it does not fulfill all of its attributes. It also contains permission for naming animals, as it was the custom of the Arabs to name animals and instruments of war with a name by which they would be known when sought, in addition to the general name. The Prophet's, peace and blessings be upon him, sword was called Dhu al-Fiqar, his banner was called al-'Uqab, his coat of mail was called Dhat al-Fudul, his mule was called Duldul, some of his horses were called al-Sakb, and some were called al-Bahr.

(2) In the printed edition: Ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As, but the correct reading is as established from the manuscript copies, for his hadith is in "al-Musnad" under number (17810).