Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Wasil bin Saib Raqashi (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that Hazrat Ata bin Rabah (may Allah have mercy on him) asked me: "Which mount is it that is obligatory to keep?" I replied: "A horse." He said: "This is indeed a thing of great reward. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Shall I not tell you who among Allah’s servants, after the Prophets, the Siddiqeen, and the martyrs, has the greatest reward with Allah? It is the believing servant who, mounted on his horse in the path of Allah, sits leaning on his spear, and due to sleep sometimes sways to the right and sometimes to the left. He seeks forgiveness from the Most Merciful and curses Satan. For him, the gates of the heavens are opened, and Allah Almighty says to the angels: 'Look at My servant.' The angels also seek forgiveness for him." Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: __QUR_N__ "Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the way of Allah..." (At-Tawbah: 111) __REF_N__