Mukhtasar Bukhari

Narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The horse is a source of reward for some people, a means of protection for some, and a cause of sin for others. So, the person for whom it is a source of reward is the one who keeps it (the horse) in the way of Allah (for jihad), then ties it with a long rope in a pasture or garden. For every area of the pasture or garden that the horse roams, he will receive good deeds in return. And if the horse’s rope breaks and it jumps over one or two elevations, then its steps and its droppings will all be counted as good deeds for him. And if the horse passes by a stream and drinks from it, even though the person did not intend to let it drink from that stream, he will still receive good deeds. Thus, such a horse is a source of reward for this reason. And the person who keeps a horse to avoid begging and to earn money, and he does not forget Allah’s right in his own self and in his riding, then this horse is a means of protection (i.e., safety) for that person. And the person who keeps a horse merely for pride, showing off, and enmity towards the Muslims, then that horse will be a burden for that person.” And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about keeping donkeys, so he said: “Nothing has been revealed to me regarding them except this comprehensive and unparalleled verse: ‘So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.’” (Surah Az-Zalzalah: 7-8)