It has been narrated (through another chain of transmitters) on the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When you travel (through a land) where there is plenty of vegetation, you should (go slow and) give the camels a chance to enjoy the benefit of the earth. When you travel (through a land) where there is scarcity of vegetation, you should hasten with them (so that you may be able to cross that land while your animals ore still in a good condition of health). When you make a halt for the night, avoid (doing so on) the road, for the tracks are the pathways of wild beasts or the abode of noxious little animals.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
"Turuq al-dawab":
The paths of animals;
Its meaning can also be:
That at night, predatory animals and venomous insects, seeing the path empty, walk upon it to pick up anything lying there, and this can also be intended,
That some other caravan may need to pass through there,
Therefore, one should not camp on the path.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 4960
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
Hawam: plural of haamah, meaning venomous creatures.
Benefits and Issues:
This hadith teaches us the etiquettes of travel: when traveling on an animal, be mindful of its food and drink. If the journey passes through a lush and verdant area, one should not overwork the animal and should give it the opportunity to graze and feed. However, if it is a time of drought and there is no fodder along the way, then one should travel quickly and strive to reach the intended destination as soon as possible, so that fodder can be provided to the animals there. In this way, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has taught the etiquettes of utilizing animals. Today, his followers do not take into consideration the food, drink, rest, and comfort of drivers.
Furthermore, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said that when camping at night, one should not camp in the middle of the road, because it is possible that other travelers may be passing through and may face difficulty due to the narrowness of the path. If the road is empty, then at night the insects of the earth come out of their holes onto the road, so there is also the possibility of being bitten by them if one camps on the road. Therefore, one should camp away from the road at night. From this, it is also understood that parking vehicles on the road is not correct, because it causes inconvenience to passersby. Therefore, it is necessary to adhere to traffic rules so that no one is harmed, and blocking roads or impounding vehicles in a manner that causes hardship to travelers is not permissible.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 4959
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation:
1:
That is, strive and reach your destination quickly, because if, before reaching the destination, the camel becomes weak due to lack of fodder, then you will fall into troubles and hardships.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 2858