420 - It was narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) held a race between horses that had been made lean, starting from al-Hafya’ and ending at Thaniyyat al-Wada‘, and another race between horses that had not been made lean, starting from Thaniyyat al-Wada‘ and ending at the mosque of Banu Zurayq. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar was one of those who took part in these races..

Commentary : The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prescribed for his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that by means of which they could attain some pleasures of this world and would also have a good impact on their faith and their hereafter. In this hadith, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) held a race between horses that had been made lean, which means that they were fed until they grew fat and strong, then their feed was reduced, giving them just enough to survive, and they were put in an enclosed space and covered with blankets until they became hot and sweated. Then when the sweat dried, their flesh would be reduced and they would be able to run fast. The course of the race began at al-Hafya’, which is a place near Madinah, to the west of Mount Uhud, and ended at Thaniyyat al-Wada‘; a thaniyyah is a path through the mountains, and it was called Thaniyyat al-Wada‘ [lit. the mountain pass of farewell] because when someone departed from Madinah, his family would take him to that mountain pass, then they would bid farewell to him in that place, and go back home. Between Thaniyyat al-Wada‘ and al-Hafya’ there is a distance of five miles or more (approximately 8 km). He also held a race between heavy horses that had not been made lean, from Thaniyyat al-Wada‘ to the mosque of Banu Zurayq, who were a tribe of the Ansar. The mosque was named after them by way of describing which mosque it was, not that they owned it. Between Thaniyyat al-Wada‘ and the mosque of Banu Zurayq there was a distance of one kilometre. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was one of those who took part in these horse races.
This hadith indicates that it is valid to attribute a mosque to the one who built it or the one who prays in it, and to name it after him, and that it is valid to attribute righteous deeds to their doers.
It indicates that it is permissible to make horses lean and to train them to run, preparing them to make the word of Allah (may He be exalted) supreme and to support His religion.
It indicates that it is permissible to make animals go hungry for a good purpose, not by way of cruelty.
It indicates that it is essential to state the distance and the length of the course in horse races..