As for the one for whom it is a reward: a man who keeps it for the sake of Allah and prepares it for that purpose—nothing disappears into its belly but a reward is written for him. Even if he pastures it in a meadow, it eats nothing but a reward is written for him on account of it. And if he waters it from a flowing river, he receives for every drop that disappears into its belly a reward—until he mentioned the reward in its urine and its dung—"and if it gallops a stretch or two, a reward is written for him for every step it takes."

As for the one for whom it is a covering: a man who keeps it for dignity and adornment, and does not forget the right of its back and its belly, in hardship and in ease.

As for the one upon whom it is a burden: the one who keeps it out of arrogance, vanity, pride, and showing off to people—that is the one upon whom it is a burden. (1)

2789 – Muhammad ibn Bashshar narrated to us, Wahb ibn Jarir narrated to us, my father narrated to us, he said: I heard Yahya ibn Ayyub narrating from Yazid ibn Abi Habib, from Ali ibn Rabah, from Abu Qatadah al-Ansari, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The best of horses is the black one with a white patch on its forehead, white on its legs, with a blaze, and a white right foreleg. If it is not black, then a chestnut with these same markings." (2)

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(1) Its chain of transmission is authentic. Suhayl: he is Ibn Abi Salih, Dhakwan al-Samman. It was also transmitted in expanded and abridged form by al-Bukhari (2371), Muslim (987), al-Tirmidhi (1730), and al-Nasa'i 6/215 and 216, via the path of Abu Salih, from Abu Hurayrah. It is also in "Musnad Ahmad" (8977) and "Sahih Ibn Hibban" (4671) and (4672). His saying: "gallops a stretch or two" — istanna al-faras yastannu istinanan, meaning: it ran out of playfulness and energy a lap or two with no rider upon it. This was stated in "al-Nihayah" 2/410.

(2) Its chain of transmission is good on account of Yahya ibn Ayyub—he is al-Ghafiqi. It was also transmitted by al-Tirmidhi (1792) from Muhammad ibn Bashshar, with this chain of transmission. =