Anas ibn Maalik (a Companion) narrated
that the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was seen wiping the face of a horse using his own garment. When people asked him about this, the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “I was reproached last night for not taking care of horses.
”1
Al-Baaji (an eminent Muslim scholar) said: “Wiping the face of the horse with his garment is a way of honoring it, and emphasizing the act of showing care and concern for it and being kind to it. The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was asked about the reason for wiping it with his garment, because people were not used to him taking care of horses in this manner earlier.
The saying of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
, that he was re- proached for not taking care of horses is because of the status horses occupy, since they are the means by which many good things occur and many acts of worship are accomplished.
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