Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 9372

Muhammad bin Sallam narrates: Some of my companions told me: Once Salman bin Rabi'ah was inspecting the horses, and Amr bin Ma'dikarib passed by riding a horse of his. Salman bin Rabi'ah said to him: "This one is a half-breed (hajin)." Amr said to him: "It is a pure-bred ('atiq)." By his order it was kept thirsty; then a basin of water was brought, and he called for the pure-bred horses, and they drank. Then Amr's horse came; it bent its forelegs and then drank, and that is the way of a half-breed. He looked at him and said: "Do you not see?" He said to him: "Yes! Only a half-breed recognises a half-breed." News of this reached Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), so he wrote to him: "I have learned what you said to your commander, and I have learned that you have a sword which you have named 'Samsamah'. I too have a sword, 'Musammam'. By Allah! If I were to strike it upon your head, it would cut through you down to your belly. If you would like (to find out) whether what I have said is true, I shall do it."
Al-Tabarani recorded it, and its chain is munqati' (broken).