What is the correct and most prevalent opinion among the commentators regarding the story of Sulaiman in Surat Sad concerning the horses, was it stroking their necks or striking them?
The story is a subject of dispute among exegetes, most of whom believe that Sulayman (peace be upon him) struck the necks of the horses and cut their shins with a sword because they distracted him from the remembrance of Allah. This was permissible for him, as he would not repent of one sin (missing prayer) with another sin (hamstringing the horses). Al-Shawkani favored this interpretation, stating that Sulayman punished himself by destroying what distracted him from the remembrance of his Lord. This is more consistent with the context of the discourse than merely stroking them to remove dust. As for the destruction of wealth, it does not contradict prophethood; it is a corruption for a legitimate purpose, just as occurred in our Shariah concerning destruction for legitimate objectives.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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