Sahih Muslim
Sahih Muslim 1211z
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبٍ الْحَارِثِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا قُرَّةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ بْنُ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَتْنَا صَفِيَّةُ بِنْتُ شَيْبَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ رضى الله عنها يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيَرْجِعُ النَّاسُ بِأَجْرَيْنِ وَأَرْجِعُ بِأَجْرٍ فَأَمَرَ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ أَنْ يَنْطَلِقَ بِهَا إِلَى التَّنْعِيمِ . قَالَتْ فَأَرْدَفَنِي خَلْفَهُ عَلَى جَمَلٍ لَهُ - قَالَتْ - فَجَعَلْتُ أَرْفَعُ خِمَارِي أَحْسُرُهُ عَنْ عُنُقِي فَيَضْرِبُ رِجْلِي بِعِلَّةِ الرَّاحِلَةِ . قُلْتُ لَهُ وَهَلْ تَرَى مِنْ أَحَدٍ قَالَتْ فَأَهْلَلْتُ بِعُمْرَةٍ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلْنَا حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ بِالْحَصْبَةِ .
Yahya ibn Habib al-Harithi narrated this to us: Khalid ibn al-Harith narrated to us: Qurra narrated to us: Abd al-Hamid ibn Jubayr ibn Shayba narrated to us: Safiyya bint Shayba narrated to us that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Messenger of Allah, will people return with two rewards while I return with one? He instructed Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr to take her to al-Tanim. She said: He seated me behind him on his camel. I kept lifting my veil and uncovering my neck, and he would strike my leg under the pretext of the riding beast. I asked him: Do you see anyone? She said: I entered ihram for Umra, then we returned until we reached the Messenger of Allah at al-Hasba.
Translation notes
قَالَتْ فَأَرْدَفَنِي خَلْفَهُ عَلَى جَمَلٍ لَهُ - قَالَتْ - فَجَعَلْتُ أَرْفَعُ خِمَارِي أَحْسُرُهُ عَنْ عُنُقِي فَيَضْرِبُ رِجْلِي بِعِلَّةِ الرَّاحِلَةِ .
The Arabic says he struck her leg بِعِلَّةِ الرَّاحِلَةِ, literally under the pretext or excuse of the mount; the exact physical action and agency are unclear.
Should this be read as him striking her leg under pretext of handling the mount, or as an accidental contact caused by the riding animal?