عَنْ مَالِكٍ : أَنَّ أَحْسَنَ مَا سَمِعَ فِي الْخَيْلِ وَالْبِغَالِ وَالْحَمِيرِ، أَنَّهَا لَا تُؤْكَلُ، لِأَنَّ اللّٰهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى قَالَ : ﴿وَالْخَيْلَ وَالْبِغَالَ وَالْحَمِيرَ لِتَرْكَبُوهَا وَزِينَةً﴾ [النحل: 8]، وَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فِي الْأَنْعَامِ : ﴿لِتَرْكَبُوا مِنْهَا، وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ﴾ [غافر: 79]، وَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى : ﴿لِيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُمْ مِنْ بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ﴾ [الحج: 34]، ﴿فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْقَانِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ﴾ [الحج: 36]. قَالَ مَالِكٌ : وسَمِعْتُ أَنَّ : الْبَائِسَ هُوَ الْفَقِيرُ، وَأَنَّ الْمُعْتَرَّ هُوَ الزَّائِرُ. قَالَ مَالِكٌ : فَذَكَرَ اللّٰهُ الْخَيْلَ وَالْبِغَالَ وَالْحَمِيرَ لِلرُّكُوبِ وَالزِّينَةِ، وَذَكَرَ الْأَنْعَامَ لِلرُّكُوبِ وَالْأَكْلِ. قَالَ مَالِكٌ : وَالْقَانِعُ هُوَ الْفَقِيرُ أَيْضًا.
Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Do not eat horses, mules, and donkeys, because Allah the Exalted has said: "And We created horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and as an adornment." And Allah the Exalted has said regarding the remaining cattle: "We created them so that you may ride them and eat them." And Allah the Exalted has said: "So that they may mention the name of Allah over the cattle which He has provided for them, so eat from them and feed the poor and the beggar." Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Thus, Allah the Exalted has specified horses, mules, and donkeys for riding, and the remaining animals for both riding and eating.