603 – Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man asked, “Messenger of Allah, who are the best of people?” He replied, “A believer who strives with his own life and wealth in the path of Allah.” The man asked, “Who comes after him?” He said, “Then a man who has withdrawn to a mountain pass (1) worshipping his Lord.” In another wording: “who fears Allah and spares the people his harm.” Agreed upon.

604 – He also narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Soon (2) the best property a Muslim will possess will be a flock of sheep with which he roams the crests of the mountains and the places where the rain falls (3), fleeing with his religion from the trials.” Reported by al-Bukhārī. “The crests of the mountains” are their highest points.

605 – Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah has not sent a prophet except that he tended sheep.” The Companions asked, “Even you?” He replied, “Yes; I used to graze them for a few qirāṭ for the people of Mecca.” Reported by al-Bukhārī.

606 – He also related that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Among the best livelihoods people can have is a man who holds the reins of his horse in Allah’s cause; whenever he hears a call to arms or a cry of alarm, he mounts its back at speed, seeking either to kill (the enemy) or to meet death where it is expected. Or a man with a small flock on the summit of a mountain ridge among these ridges, or in the bed of a valley among these valleys, who establishes the prayer, gives the zakāh, and worships his Lord until certainty (4) comes to him; such a person brings nothing to the people but good.” Reported by Muslim.

“Flying” (yaṭīru) here means “hurrying”; “its back” (matnuhu) refers to the horse’s back; and “hayʿah” denotes a shout or alarm.