Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

It is narrated from Abdur Rahman bin Shumasah that Faqim Lakhmi said to Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him): "You keep going back and forth between these two marks, even though you are elderly and this act must be difficult for you." Sayyiduna Uqbah said: "If I had not heard a hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I would not have put myself through this hardship." Harith said: "I asked Ibn Shumasah: What is that hadith?" He said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Whoever learns archery and then abandons it, he is not one of us.' Or the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'He has disobeyed.'"

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a group of his companions who were practicing archery, and he said: "O children of Ismail! Practice archery, for your father was an archer."

Mus'ab bin Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from his father that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Practice archery, for it is the best sport and amusement."