Hadith 255

Sahih Muslim

Book 33: The Book on Government

Chapter 54

Keeping animals' well being in mind when traveling, and the prohibition of halting in the road at the end of the night.

باب مُرَاعَاةِ مَصْلَحَةِ الدَّوَابِّ فِي السَّيْرِ وَالنَّهْىِ عَنِ التَّعْرِيسِ فِي الطَّرِيقِ ‏‏

Sahih Muslim 1926b
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ - عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ ‏ ‏.‏
"‏ إِذَا سَافَرْتُمْ فِي الْخِصْبِ فَأَعْطُوا الإِبِلَ حَظَّهَا مِنَ الأَرْضِ وَإِذَا سَافَرْتُمْ فِي السَّنَةِ فَبَادِرُوا بِهَا نِقَيَهَا وَإِذَا عَرَّسْتُمْ فَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّرِيقَ فَإِنَّهَا طُرُقُ الدَّوَابِّ وَمَأْوَى الْهَوَامِّ بِاللَّيْلِ ‏"
It has been narrated (through another chain of transmitters) on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

When you travel (through a land) where there is plenty of vegetation, you should (go slow and) give the camels a chance to enjoy the benefit of the earth. 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 ore 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 noxious little animals.