Allah the Exalted says regarding Sulayman: "When the fine, swift horses were presented to him in the afternoon."
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The questioner : Allah the Exalted says regarding Sulayman: [Sad 38:31] until He said [Sad 38:33] What was the reason for Sulayman (peace be upon him) killing the horses? Was it because of a mistake by the horses? Please clarify...
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : A mistake by the horses, meaning...
The Shaykh : Yes, the reason Sulayman (peace and blessings be upon him) killed the horses is that these horses distracted him from the remembrance of Allah, so he took revenge on himself. The "fine, swift horses" are good horses that were presented to him (peace and blessings be upon him) after the 'Asr prayer, and they distracted him from the 'Asr prayer until the sun set, meaning the sun disappeared behind the horizon, meaning the earth. The sun set before he prayed, so he took revenge on himself.[Sad 38:33]
Likewise, if a person finds that something of his wealth distracts him from the remembrance of Allah, he should remove it from himself. Look at what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did when he prayed one day with a khamisah. A khamisah is a patterned, decorated cloak. He looked at its patterns once, and when he finished the prayer, he said:Sahih al-Bukhari 373 Abu Jahm had gifted this khamisah to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), so he said: Sahih al-Bukhari 373
He removed it from his ownership because what was it? It distracted him from his prayer.
But why did he say: An abnajaniyyah is a thick cloak, not like the khamisah. He said that so that nothing would come to the heart of Abu Jahm when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) returned the khamisah to him. This is part of the good policy of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and we have referred to his good policy and character in this morning's lesson.
Similarly, when al-Sa'b ibn Jathamah hosted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as a guest on his way to Makkah, while he was in a state of ihram for the Farewell Pilgrimage. Al-Sa'b ibn Jathamah (may Allah be pleased with him) was a man who was a fast runner and a hunter. He hunted a wild donkey for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), which is a known type of game. Then he brought it to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and he returned it. The Messenger returned it, so al-Sa'b's face changed. When he saw what was on his face, he said:Sahih Muslim 1193a meaning, we are in a state of ihram.
In summary: Sulayman (peace and blessings be upon him) did what he did to the horses so that they would not distract him from the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) again. This is from one angle, and from another angle...
[Mention] when there were exhibited before him in the afternoon the poised [standing] racehorses.
إذ عرض عليه بالعشي الصافنات الجيادand set about striking [their] legs and necks.
فطفق مسحا بالسوق والأعناقThe Shaykh : What?
The questioner : A mistake by the horses, meaning...
The Shaykh : Yes, the reason Sulayman (peace and blessings be upon him) killed the horses is that these horses distracted him from the remembrance of Allah, so he took revenge on himself. The "fine, swift horses" are good horses that were presented to him (peace and blessings be upon him) after the 'Asr prayer, and they distracted him from the 'Asr prayer until the sun set, meaning the sun disappeared behind the horizon, meaning the earth. The sun set before he prayed, so he took revenge on himself.
and set about striking [their] legs and necks.
وطفق مسحاً بالسوق والأعناقLikewise, if a person finds that something of his wealth distracts him from the remembrance of Allah, he should remove it from himself. Look at what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did when he prayed one day with a khamisah. A khamisah is a patterned, decorated cloak. He looked at its patterns once, and when he finished the prayer, he said:
Take this Khamisa of mine to Abu Jahm and get me his Inbijaniya
اذهبوا بخميصتي إلى أبي جهم وأئتوني بأنبجانية أبي جهمTake this Khamisa of mine to Abu Jahm and get me his Inbijaniya (a woolen garment without marks) as it (the Khamisa) has diverted my attention from the prayer.
اذهبوا بخميصتي هذه إلى أبي جهم وائتوني بأبجانيته فإنها ألهتني آنفا عن صلاتيHe removed it from his ownership because what was it? It distracted him from his prayer.
But why did he say:
Bring me Abu Jahm's abnajaniyyah
ائيتوني يأبجانية أبي جهمSimilarly, when al-Sa'b ibn Jathamah hosted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as a guest on his way to Makkah, while he was in a state of ihram for the Farewell Pilgrimage. Al-Sa'b ibn Jathamah (may Allah be pleased with him) was a man who was a fast runner and a hunter. He hunted a wild donkey for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), which is a known type of game. Then he brought it to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and he returned it. The Messenger returned it, so al-Sa'b's face changed. When he saw what was on his face, he said:
We have refused it only because we are in a state of Ihram.
إنا لم نرده عليك إلا أنّا حرمIn summary: Sulayman (peace and blessings be upon him) did what he did to the horses so that they would not distract him from the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) again. This is from one angle, and from another angle...