Sahih al-Bukhari 3646

ʿAbdullah ibn Maslama narrated to us, from Malik, from Zayd ibn Aslam, from Abu Salih al-Samman, from Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Prophet ﷺ, who said, “Horses are for three kinds of people: for one man they bring reward, for another they are a means of protection, and for another they are a burden of sin. The one who is rewarded is a man who tethers them for the cause of Allah and lets them graze freely in a meadow or garden. Whatever they eat within the length of their tether is counted as good deeds for him. If they break loose and run up one or two hills, their droppings are counted as good deeds for him. If they pass by a river and drink from it, even though he did not intend to water them, that is counted as good deeds for him. Another man keeps them to earn a living, protect himself, and remain self-sufficient, while not forgetting Allah’s due regarding their necks and backs; they are a protection for him. A third man keeps them out of pride, ostentation, and hostility toward the people of Islam; they are a burden of sin for him.”

The Prophet ﷺ was asked about donkeys and said, “Nothing has been revealed to me concerning them except this comprehensive, unique verse: ‘Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.’” [Qur’an 99:7–8]