Abū Nuʿaym likewise relates in “Description of Paradise,” through the chain of ʿAlqamah ibn Marthad (1), from Yaḥyā ibn Isḥāq, from ʿAṭāʾ ibn Yasār, from Abū Hurayrah, that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Al-Firdaws is the highest of the Gardens in rank and the broadest in expanse. From it the rivers of Paradise spring forth, and above it the Throne will be placed on the Day of Resurrection.”

A man then stood up and said, “O Messenger of Allah, love of horses has been placed in my heart; will there be horses in Paradise?”

He replied, “Yes, by the One in Whose hand is my soul. In Paradise there are horses and haffāfah camels (2) that glide among the foliage of Paradise. The people of Paradise ride them to visit one another wherever they wish.” (3)

Al-Tirmidhī also said: Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl ibn Samurah al-Aḥmasī narrated to us; Abū Muʿāwiyah narrated to us; Wāṣil ibn al-Sāʾib, from Abū Sawrah, from Abū Ayyūb, who said:

A Bedouin came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I love horses; are there horses in Paradise?”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ answered, “If you are admitted to Paradise, you will be brought a horse of ruby with two wings. You will be mounted upon it, and it will then fly with you wherever you wish.”

Al-Tirmidhī judged this chain weak because of Abū Sawrah—the nephew of Abū Ayyūb—for more than one scholar has declared him unreliable, and al-Bukhārī deemed this ḥadīth objectionable. Allah knows best. (4)

Al-Qurṭubī said: Ibn Wahb informed us—he said: Ibn Zayd related to us—that al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī said, “It is reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:

‘The lowest-ranked inhabitant of Paradise will ride, accompanied by one million of his immortal youthful servants, upon a horse of red ruby whose wings are of gold.’

He then recited: ‘And when you look there, you will see bliss and a vast kingdom’ (Sūrah al-Insān 76:20).”

I (the author) say: There is a break in this chain between ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Zayd—who is weak—and al-Ḥasan, and the report is also mursal (missing the Companion).

Abū Nuʿaym further transmitted, raising it to the Prophet, from Abū Ayyūb:

“Indeed, the people of Paradise will visit one another on white noble mounts that look like ruby, and there are no animals in Paradise except horses and camels.” (5)

ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Mubārak said: Hammām narrated to us, from Qatādah, [from Abū Ayyūb], from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr, who said:

“In Paradise there are high-bred horses and choice noble mounts that their owners will ride.” (6)

This wording does not limit the animals to horses and camels, as Abū Nuʿaym’s report from Abū Ayyūb suggests. Moreover, it is countered by what Ibn Mājah recorded in his Sunan from [ʿAbd Allāh] ibn ʿUmar, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“The sheep is one of the beasts of Paradise.” This, too, is an objectionable report. (7)