Shurayh ibn Haani’ (a Companion) narrated:
“’Aa’ishah (the wife of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) mounted upon a wild camel and she began subduing it in a rough manner. Thereupon the Prophet of Allah, sallal- laahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to her: “You should show kindness.”1
Abu Hurayrah narrated
that the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “When you travel [through a land] where there is plenty of vegetation, you should [go slow and] give the camels a chance to en- joy the benefit of the earth [i.e. eat from it]. 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 are 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 harmful creatures.”2
The narration encourages people to be kind to animals and take their welfare into account. People should travel slowly and take their time when travelling through a land that is fertile and full of vegetation. This enables the animal to enjoy and eat from this land. On the other hand, if there is scarcity of vegetation, then they should hasten in order to take advantage of the animal’s strength to avoid travelling whilst the animal is tired and thus avoid overburdening it.
The narration also highlights the etiquette of travel, which is to camp away from the road since they are the pathways of wild beasts that could harm people and the abode of harmful creatures.3