It was narrated that Sa‘eed ibn Al-Musayyib, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "The Baheerah is a female camel whose milk was spared for the idols and no one was allowed to milk it. The Saa'ibah is a female camel let loose for free pasture for the idols, and nothing was allowed to be carried on it. He, may Allaah be pleased with him, added that Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: "I saw ‘Amr ibn‘Aamir Al-Khuzaa‘i pulling his intestines behind him in the Fire, and he was the first to start the practice of Saa'ibah." (1).

Explanation of the Hadeeth:

It was mentioned in Tafseer Ibn Katheer, may Allaah be pleased with him, that ‘Amr mentioned in the above Hadeeth is the son of Luhay ibn Qam`ah, one of the chiefs of the tribe of Khuzaa‘ah who were the caretakers of the House of Allaah The Almighty (i.e. the Sacred House in Makkah) after the tribe of Jurhum, (and before the Prophet's tribe, Quraysh). He was the first to change the religion of Ibraaheem (i.e. Abraham; Al-Khaleel in Makkah), may Allaah exalt his mention, bringing idol worshipping to the area of Hijaaz (Western Arabia). He also called the foolish people to worship idols and offer sacrifices to them and started these ignorant rituals concerning the animals as well as other rituals of Jaahiliyyah (i.e. corrupt practices of the pre-Islamic era). Allaah The Almighty Says (what means) in Soorat Al-An‘aam: {And the polytheists assign to Allah from that which He created of crops and livestock a share and say, "This is for Allah ," by their claim, " and this is for our partners [associated with Him]." But what is for their "partners" does not reach Allah , while what is for Allah - this reaches their "partners." Evil is that which they rule.} [Quran 6: 136] until the end of the verses tackling this issue. (2).

Amongst the lessons drawn from the above-mentioned Hadeeth:

 1- The severe punishment of the one who sets a bad precedent. ‘Amr ibn‘Aamir Al-Khuzaa‘i is first one who let loose female camels for free pasture for the idols. Then, people followed him doing such awful act. Thus, he will bear the burden of sin for that, and the burden of those who do it after him.

It was narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “No soul is killed unlawfully, but there is a share of the sin on the first son of Adam, because he was the first one to set the precedent of killing.” (3).

Furthermore, it was narrated on the authority of Jareer ibn ‘Abd-Allaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “Whoever sets a good precedent in Islam will have the reward for that and the reward of those who do it after him, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest. And whoever sets a bad precedent in Islam will bear the burden of sin for that, and the burden of those who do it after him, without that detracting from their burden in the slightest.” (4).

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(1)         Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari  No. (4623) and Saheeh Muslim  No. (2856).

(2)         Tafseer Ibn Katheer (2/146).

(3)         Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari No.  (3336).

(4)         Reported in Saheeh Muslim No. (1017)