JIHAD SECTION · 66 – The Ruling on Cutting the Sinews of Animals in War
Abbad ibn Abdullah ibn Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him, related from his foster-brother, a man of the Banu Murra, son of Awf, who said: He participated in the campaign of Mutah and swore by Allah: “I saw Ja’far (the Flyer) dismount from his red mount and cut its sinews with his sword, then fight against the enemy until he was martyred.” Abu Dawud said: This hadith is weak.
COMMENTARY: Ja'far al-Tayyar was the first to cut the sinews of his horse in Islam. For Ja’far saw the strength of the enemy and feared that if he were killed, his mount would fall into enemy hands and be used against the Muslims, so he did this.
Iktehama: Means he dismounted.
Akara: Means he struck his feet with a sword.