عن أبي هريرة رضي اللّه عنه أنّ رسول اللّه صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم قال: «بَيْنمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي بطَريقٍ اشْتَدَّ علَيْهِ الْعَطشُ، فَوجد بِئرًا فَنزَلَ فيها فَشَرِبَ، ثُمَّ خرج فإِذا كلْبٌ يَلهثُ يَأْكُلُ الثَّرَى مِنَ الْعَطَشِ، فقال الرَّجُلُ: لَقَدْ بلَغَ هَذَا الْكَلْب مِنَ العطشِ مِثْل الَّذِي كَانَ قَدْ بَلَغَ مِنِّي، فَنَزَلَ الْبِئْرَ فَملأَ خُفَّه مَاءً ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَه بِفيهِ، حتَّى رقِيَ فَسَقَى الْكَلْبَ، فَشَكَرَ اللّهُ لَه فَغَفَرَ لَه. قَالُوا: يا رسولَ اللّه إِنَّ لَنَا في الْبَهَائِم أَجْرًا؟ فَقَالَ: «في كُلِّ كَبِدٍ رَطْبةٍ أَجْرٌ» متفقٌ عليه. •وفي رواية للبخاري: «فَشَكَر اللّه لهُ فَغَفَرَ لَه، فَأدْخَلَه الْجنَّةَ». •وفي رواية لَهُما: «بَيْنَما كَلْبٌ يُطيف بِرَكِيَّةٍ قَدْ كَادَ يقْتُلُه الْعطَشُ إِذْ رأتْه بَغِيٌّ مِنْ بَغَايا بَنِي إِسْرَائيلَ، فَنَزَعَتْ مُوقَهَا فاسْتَقت لَهُ بِهِ، فَسَقَتْهُ فَغُفِر لَهَا بِهِ».
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "While a man was walking along a road, he became very thirsty. He found a well, descended into it, drank, and then came out. There he found a dog panting and eating moist earth out of thirst. The man said: 'This dog has become as thirsty as I was.' So he descended into the well, filled his shoe with water, held it in his mouth, climbed out, and gave the dog water to drink. Allah thanked him for that and forgave him." They asked: "O Messenger of Allah, is there a reward for us in serving animals?" He said: "There is a reward for serving every living being." Agreed upon (narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim). In a narration by al-Bukhari: "Allah thanked him, forgave him, and admitted him into Paradise." In a narration by both: "A dog was circling a well, nearly dying of thirst, when a prostitute from the Children of Israel saw it. She removed her shoe, drew water with it, and gave the dog a drink. She was forgiven on account of that."
الشرح · explanation
يلهث: يخرج لسانه من فمه. الثَّرى: التّراب الرطب. فشكر اللّه له: أي قبل عمله ذلك. إنّ لنا في البهائم أجرًا: أيكون لنا في الإحسان للبهائم ثواب. رطبة: أي حيّة، سميت بذلك لرطوبة الحياة فيها. وَيُطِيف: يَدُورُ حَوْلَ برَكِيَّةٍ: وهي الْبِئْرُ. بغيّ: زانية. مُوقَها: خُفَّها. فاسْتَقت له به: أي جعلته إناءً لسقي الكلب به.
"Panting" (yalhath) means its tongue was hanging out of its mouth. "Moist earth" (al-thara) refers to damp soil. "Allah thanked him" means Allah accepted that deed of his. "Is there a reward for us in serving animals?" means: do we receive reward for showing kindness to animals? "Living" (ratbah, lit. 'moist') means alive, so called because of the moisture of life within it. "Circling" (yutif) means going around. "Well" (rakiyyah) refers to a well. "Prostitute" (baghiyy) refers to a woman who committed fornication. "Her shoe" (mawqaha) refers to her leather footwear. "Drew water with it" means she used it as a vessel to draw water for the dog.
الدروس · lessons
فضل الإحسان إلى كل مخلوق حيّ، وأنّ ذلك من أعمال الخير التي يكافئ اللّه عزّ وجلّ عليها بالثواب العظيم، وتكون سببًا للمغفرة. فضل سقي الماء، وهو من أفضل القربات إلى اللّه عزّ وجلّ. عموم رحمة اللّه تعالى حتى شملت الحيوان لأنّه من مخلوقاته. سعة فضله سبحانه فقد يغفر الذنوب الكبيرة بعمل الخير اليسير. عظيم فضل الإخلاص للّه في الأعمال التي يفعلها الإنسان وهو يعلم أنّه لا مادح له ولا مثيب إلّا اللّه. الحرص على الطاعات الخفية مهما بلغ التقصير والعصيان بالإنسان، فقد تكون سببًا في رحمة اللّه بالعبد وإخراجه ممّا هو فيه من عصيان. للمؤمن أن ينتهز الفرصة مدة حياته، وأن يجتهد في القيام بما يسر اللّه له من أنواع الخير بحسب الطاقة، والخير كثير.
The merit of showing kindness to every living creature, and that this is among the good deeds for which Allah, the Almighty, grants immense reward, and it can be a cause for forgiveness. The merit of providing water, which is among the most virtuous acts of drawing near to Allah, the Almighty. The all-encompassing mercy of Allah, the Most High, which extends even to animals because they are His creation. The vastness of His grace, as He may forgive great sins on account of a small act of goodness. The great merit of sincerity toward Allah in deeds that a person performs knowing that no one will praise or reward him except Allah. One should be eager to perform hidden acts of obedience regardless of how much one has fallen short or sinned, for such acts may be a means of Allah showing mercy to His servant and delivering him from his state of disobedience. The believer should seize every opportunity during his lifetime and strive to perform whatever acts of goodness Allah makes easy for him, according to his ability, for the paths of goodness are many.