The main aim of our site is to purify The Seerah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from weak and fabricated narrations using the works of the scholars of Islam. We may add other beneficial material as well.
🐆 WAS YAZĪD IBN MU’ĀWIYA THE FIRST TO HUNT WITH CHEETAHS? 🐆
📌 The Popular Claim
A claim circulates in lectures and pamphlets that Yazīd ibn Mu’āwiya was the first to hunt with cheetahs (fahd / فهد). On closer inspection of the classical Arabic sources, this is a misquotation ❌ — the actual narration is far more specific. 🔍
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📖 What The Classical Sources Actually Say
The definitive statement comes from Imām Shihāb al-Dīn al-Nuwayrī (d. 733 AH / 1333 CE) in his monumental Mamlūk-era encyclopaedia Nihāyat al-Arab fī Funūn al-Adab (نهاية الأرب في فنون الأدب) — a 9,000-page Sunnī compendium of classical Arab knowledge. ✨
In the chapter “Fī al-Fahd” (On the Cheetah), he arranges the awā’il (firsts) of cheetah-hunting in a precise sequence:
🖋️ “The first person to hunt with a cheetah was Kulayb Wā’il, or perhaps Hammām ibn Murra. The first to carry a cheetah on a horse was Yazīd ibn Mu’āwiya ibn Abī Sufyān. The one most famous for sporting with cheetahs was Abū Muslim al-Khurāsānī. The first to establish the practice of the hunting circle (ḥalqa) was al-Mu’taḍid bi’llāh.”
So according to the classical Sunnī tradition itself, four distinct firsts are recorded — and Yazīd is credited with only one narrow, technical first. ☝️
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🏹 The Four Firsts In Cheetah-Hunting
1️⃣ First to hunt with a cheetah at all ➡️ Kulayb ibn Wā’il (or Hammām ibn Murra) — Pre-Islamic Jāhiliyya 🏜️
2️⃣ First to carry the cheetah on horseback ➡️ Yazīd ibn Mu’āwiya — Early Umayyad era 🐎
3️⃣ Most famous for sporting with cheetahs ➡️ Abū Muslim al-Khurāsānī — Early Abbāsid era ⚔️
4️⃣ First to organise the hunting circle (ḥalqa) ➡️ al-Mu’taḍid bi’llāh — Late Abbāsid era 👑
🔎 Kulayb ibn Wā’il — chief of Banū Taghlib and the famed figure of the Ḥarb al-Basūs — lived more than a century before the advent of Islam. So even the Arabic tradition itself places the origin of cheetah-hunting firmly in the Jāhiliyya, not in Yazīd’s reign. ✅
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🌍 Cheetah-Hunting Long Predates Islam
The broader historical record confirms this: 🧐
🇪🇬 Ancient Egypt: Trained cheetahs appear as royal hunting animals in Pharaonic iconography going back to the Old Kingdom.
🇮🇷 Sasanian Persia: Firdawsī’s Shāhnāma records that King Bahrām V Gūr (r. 420–438 CE) trained captive cheetahs for the hunt — two centuries before Yazīd was born! ⏳
🐪 Pre-Islamic Arabia: As al-Nuwayrī records, the Arabs already knew the sport from Kulayb Wā’il and Hammām ibn Murra.
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💡 Summary
❌ Yazīd ibn Mu’āwiya was NOT the first to hunt with cheetahs.
✅ According to al-Nuwayrī’s Nihāyat al-Arab, he was the first to carry a trained cheetah behind him on horseback 🐎🐆 — a specific technical practice, not the origin of the sport itself.
🌐 Cheetah-hunting was already well-established in pre-Islamic Arabia, Sasanian Persia, and Pharaonic Egypt long before his time.
🤲 وَاللهُ تَعَالَىٰ أَعْلَم — And Allāh ﷻ knows best.
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📚 Book References
📖 al-Nuwayrī, Shihāb al-Dīn Aḥmad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhāb (d. 733 AH). Nihāyat al-Arab fī Funūn al-Adab (نهاية الأرب في فنون الأدب), Vol. 9, Kitāb al-Ḥayawān, Bāb fī al-Fahd (“On the Cheetah”). Dār al-Kutub al-Miṣriyya, Cairo.
📖 Muhanna, Elias (trans.). The Ultimate Ambition in the Arts of Erudition: A Compendium of Knowledge from the Classical Islamic World (abridged English translation of al-Nuwayrī). Penguin Classics, 2016.
📖 Firdawsī, Abū al-Qāsim. Shāhnāma — account of Bahrām V Gūr and the training of hunting cheetahs.
📖 Allsen, Thomas T. The Royal Hunt in Eurasian History. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2006 — academic survey tracing cheetah-coursing from antiquity through the Islamic world.
One of the gravest yet most normalised sins in our Ummah today is the unjust division of mīrāth (inheritance). I have personally witnessed families — even those who pride themselves on following the Qur’an and Sunnah — trampling over the laws of Allah without a flinch of guilt. This happens most often when the deceased leaves behind only daughters and no son.
Allah has Himself decreed the shares — not leaving this matter to human emotion, custom, or “family understanding”:
“Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two-thirds of one’s estate…” — Surah an-Nisā’ 4:11
📜 The Sharʿī Distribution (when deceased leaves wife + only daughters, no son):
– Daughters (two or more): 2/3 collectively (one daughter alone: 1/2) – Wife: 1/8 (because children exist; it would be 1/4 only if there were no children) – Parents (if alive): each 1/6 – The remaining residue (ʿasabah): goes to the deceased’s father — and in his absence, to the deceased’s brothers (and through them, to his nephews, paternal uncles, and male agnatic relatives) in the order fixed by the Shariah.
This residue is not the property of the wife. It is not the property of the daughters. It is the ḥaqq (right) of the deceased’s blood relatives — a right placed there by Al-Ḥakīm, The Most Wise.
❗Yet what do we see?
The widow says, “It was my husband’s, so it is mine.” The daughters quietly absorb the entire estate, telling themselves they “deserve” it.
The husband’s brothers, sisters, and father are pushed aside — sometimes mocked for even raising the subject — as if asking for what Allah gave them is shameful.
Subḥān-Allāh — do we truly believe we are more merciful, more fair, or more wise than the One who created us?
Allah said in the end of the very Ayah 4:11 that mentions this:.. (these fixed shares) are ordained by Allâh. And Allâh is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.
🌸 A Sincere Plea to the Daughters:
Dear sisters — do not destroy your ākhirah for a fleeting share of this dunyā. The house, the land, the bank balance — none of it will enter the grave with you. But the ḥuqūq (rights) you devoured will.
If your mother did not give your father’s siblings, father, or paternal family their ordained shares — then at the very least, you give it. Break the chain. Return what is not yours. Cleanse the wealth before it becomes a fire around your neck.
And fear the Day when…
“…wealth and sons will be of no benefit, except for one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.” — Surah ash-Shu’arā’ 26:88-89
…the Day when every dirham unlawfully taken will be weighed, when the oppressed will stand before Allah with their claim, and when no lawyer, no excuse, and no family tradition will save you.
📿 The Prophet ﷺ warned us in terrifying words: “Whoever wrongfully takes a span of land, Allah will encircle him with it from the seven earths on the Day of Resurrection.” — Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2454
And in another narration:
“Beware of injustice (ẓulm), for injustice will be darknesses (ẓulumāt) on the Day of Resurrection.” — Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2578
And concerning those who consume the rights of heirs:
“Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a Blaze.” — Surah an-Nisā’ 4:10
🤲 A Final Word
Wealth taken without right is not barakah — it is bala’ (a trial). It poisons marriages, breaks children, eats away health, and ruins the ākhirah. Returning a usurped share, even after years, is a sign of īmān, not weakness.
May Allah make us among those who fear Him in matters no court can see — and who honour His laws even when our own families look the other way. Aameen.
The month of Muharram is the 1st month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar. Its virtues, drawn directly from the Qur’an, authentic ahadith, and the verdicts of the scholars, are as follows.
1. It is One of the Four Sacred Months Named in the Qur’an
Allah says:
“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein.” — Surah at-Tawbah 9:36
The Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) identified these four months explicitly:
“The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive months — Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram — and Rajab of Mudar, which comes between Jumada and Sha’ban.” — Narrated by al-Bukhari, no. 2958 (from Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him)
2. Its Very Name Signals Its Sanctity
“Muharram” comes from the root meaning forbidden or sacred — its name itself reinforces the prohibition of wrongdoing during it.
3. Sins Are Graver and Good Deeds More Rewarded in It
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, commenting on “so wrong not yourselves therein”:
“(The command not to wrong yourself) applies in all months, then Allah singled out four months and made them sacred, and emphasized their sanctity. He made sin during these months more grave, and He made righteous deeds and the reward thereof greater.”
Qatadah said:
“Wrongdoing during the sacred months is more serious and incurs a greater burden of sin than in other months… Allah has chosen elites from His creation: from among the angels He chose Messengers, from among mankind He chose Messengers, from among speech He chose dhikr, from among spaces He chose the mosques, from among the months He chose Ramadan and the sacred months, from among days He chose Friday, and from among nights He chose Laylat al-Qadr.” — Tafsir Ibn Kathir, commentary on Surah at-Tawbah 9:36
4. It Is Honored by Being Attributed Directly to Allah — “Shahr Allah” (the Month of Allah)
The Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said:
“The best fast after Ramadan is in the month of Allah, Muharram.” — Sahih Muslim, no. 1163 (also reported as 1982), from Abu Hurayrah
Al-Qari noted that this genitive attribution (idafah) — calling it “the month of Allah” — indicates the veneration this month deserves, and that “what is meant is the entire month of Muharram.” (Cited in Sharh an-Nawawi ala Sahih Muslim.)
5. It Is the Most Virtuous Month for Voluntary Fasting After Ramadan
Based on the hadith above (Muslim 1163), Imam an-Nawawi clarified that the Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) never fasted any full month except Ramadan; therefore the hadith encourages fasting a great deal of Muharram, not the whole month. He added:
“Perhaps the virtue of Muharram was not revealed to him until the end of his life, before he was able to fast during it.” — Sharh an-Nawawi ala Sahih Muslim
6. It Contains the Great Day of Ashura (10th Muharram)
The Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said:
“Fasting the day of Arafah, I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year before it and the year after it; and fasting the day of Ashura, I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.” — Sahih Muslim, no. 1162
Ibn Abbas said:
“I never saw the Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) so keen to make sure he fasted any day and preferring it over another except this day, the day of Ashura, and this month — meaning Ramadan.” — Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 1867
The reason for fasting it is given in another hadith:
The Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked, “What is this?” They said, “This is a good day; this is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy, and Musa fasted on this day.” He said, “We are closer to Musa (Alaihis Salam) than you.” So he fasted on this day and told the people to fast. — Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 1865
Imam an-Nawawi clarified the scope of this expiation:
“Fasting the day of Arafah is an expiation for two years, and the day of Ashura is an expiation for one year… The expiation refers to minor sins; with regard to major sins, they need separate repentance.” — al-Majmu Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, part 6
Ibn Taymiyyah concurred:
“The expiation of purification, prayer, and fasting Ramadan, Arafah, and Ashura applies to minor sins only.” — al-Fatawa al-Kubra, part 5
7. Allah Singles Out Blessed Times for Greater Reward
Al-Izz ibn Abd as-Salam (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Superiority of times and places is of two types… the religious or spiritual, because of what Allah bestows upon His slaves at those times of greater reward for deeds — such as the greater virtue of fasting Ramadan over other months, or the day of Ashura. Its virtue is due to Allah’s generosity and kindness to His slaves during it.” — Qawaid al-Ahkam, 1/38
(The above virtues are summarized from IslamQA Article 74 and Fatwa 204142, the latter based on Shaykh Abdul-Azeez ibn Baaz, Fatawa Nur ala ad-Darb, 1/334.)
Recommended Practices in Muharram (Sunnah)
1. Fast generously throughout the month, based on Muslim no. 1163 — “The best fast after Ramadan is the month of Allah, Muharram.”
2. Fast the 10th of Muharram (Ashura) — expiates the sins of the past year (Muslim 1162).
3. Fast the 9th together with the 10th, to differ from the Jews. The Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said:
“If I live until next year, I will certainly fast the ninth as well.” — Sahih Muslim, from Ibn Abbas
4. Fasting the 11th is also encouraged, based on the report from Ibn Abbas:
“Fast the day of Ashura, and be different from the Jews with regard to it; fast the day before it or the day after it.” — Musnad Ahmad (classed hasan by Shaykh Ahmad Shakir; daif by others — tolerated in matters of virtue)
Imam Ahmad said: “Whoever wants to fast Ashura should fast on the ninth and the tenth, unless there is some uncertainty about the months, in which case he should fast for three days.” — al-Mughni, 4/441
5. Avoid wrongdoing with extra vigilance, as sins in the sacred months are graver (Qur’an 9:36; Ibn Abbas and Qatadah).
6. If reminded of the killing of al-Husayn or any past calamity, say “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun” — and Allah will grant a reward equal to that of the day the calamity occurred (hadith narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Majah, cited by Ibn Kathir in al-Bidayah wa’n-Nihayah, 8/221).
Innovations (Bidah) to Avoid in Muharram and on Ashura
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah explained that Shaytan introduced two opposite innovations through the killing of al-Husayn:
“Because of the killing of al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him), Shaytan caused the people to introduce two innovations: the innovation of mourning and wailing on the day of Ashura — by slapping the cheeks, weeping, and reciting eulogies — and the innovation of rejoicing and celebrating… So some introduced mourning and others introduced celebration… And every innovation is misguidance. None of the four imams of the Muslims or any other (scholars) regarded either of these things as mustahabb.” — Minhaj as-Sunnah, 4/554
A. Innovations of Mourning (those who took it as a day of grief)
– Wailing, beating chests, slapping cheeks – Striking the shoulders with chains, cutting heads with swords to draw blood (matam, tatbir) – Rending garments and crying with the cry of Jahiliyyah — explicitly forbidden by the Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam):
“He is not one of us who strikes his cheeks, rends his garment, or cries with the cry of Jahiliyyah.” — Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 1294; Sahih Muslim, no. 103
– Reciting eulogies of grief and fabricated stories about Karbala – Refusing to drink water in sympathy with al-Husayn – Taking Ashura as an annual day of mourning — neither the Prophet nor the Sahabah did this even after the deaths of greater figures (Hamzah, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, and the Prophet himself). — Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa’n-Nihayah, 8/220–221
B. Innovations of Celebration (those who took it as a festive day)
– Cooking special dishes or grains for Ashura – Wearing new clothes, applying kohl or henna – Performing a special ghusl for the day – Shaking hands ceremonially, exchanging visits as on an Eid – Visiting mosques and shrines (mashahid) specifically on Ashura – Spending extra money on the family or buying yearly supplies on that day (based on a fabricated narration) – Performing special prayers or sacrifices unique to that day
Ibn Taymiyyah ruled:
“All of this is reprehensible bidah and is wrong. Nothing to that effect has been reported in any sahih hadith from the Prophet ﷺ or from his Companions. None of the imams of the Muslims encouraged or recommended such things — neither the four imams, nor any others.” — al-Fatawa al-Kubra, part 5
C. Fabricated Narrations About Ashura — Do Not Believe or Spread
Reports claiming that Ashura is the day Adam’s repentance was accepted, Nuh’s Ark settled on Mount Judi, Yusuf returned to Yaqub, Ibrahim was saved from the fire, and so on — Ibn Taymiyyah classed all such reports as lacking any reliable chain.
Summary
Muharram’s virtue lies in its sanctity (Qur’an 9:36), its honor of being attributed to Allah (Muslim 1163), and the great expiation tied to fasting Ashura (Muslim 1162). The Sunnah is to fast — particularly the 9th and 10th (or 9th, 10th, and 11th) — and to avoid wrongdoing. Anything beyond this in the form of celebration or mourning rituals is innovation, as declared by Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Kathir, and the consensus of the imams.
PEP stands for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis. In the context of HIV management, it is an emergency medical treatment used to prevent HIV infection after a person has potentially been exposed to the virus.
Here is a breakdown of how it works and when it is used:
1. How It Works
PEP involves taking a short, intensive course of antiretroviral medicines (usually a combination of three pills) every day for exactly 28 days. These medications stop the virus from replicating and spreading throughout the body, effectively preventing it from establishing a permanent infection.
2. The Critical Time Window
Time is the most crucial factor for PEP: The 72-Hour Rule: PEP must be started within 72 hours (3 days) of the potential exposure.
The Sooner, the Better: It is significantly more effective the closer it is started to the time of exposure. Every hour counts; waiting until the 72-hour mark greatly reduces its efficacy, and it is generally not prescribed at all after 72 hours.
3. When is PEP Recommended?
PEP is strictly for emergency situations and is not meant to replace regular HIV prevention methods like condoms or PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis).
It is typically used after:
Sexual Exposure: Having unprotected sex (or experiencing a condom rupture) with a partner whose HIV status is positive or unknown, particularly if there is a known risk of infidelity, non-consensual sexual contact (rape), or sexual assault.
Occupational Exposure: Healthcare workers who experience an accidental needle-stick injury or exposure to infected blood/body fluids while treating patients. Shared Needles: Sharing needles or other equipment used to inject drugs.
4. PEP vs. PrEP (The Key Difference)
It is common to confuse PEP with PrEP, but they serve entirely different purposes:
PEP (Post-Exposure): Taken after a single, unexpected emergency event. It is a 28-day emergency treatment.
PrEP (Pre-Exposure): Taken consistently before and during periods of ongoing risk (e.g., individuals in serodiscordant relationships where one partner is HIV-positive and the other is negative, or healthcare professionals in high-risk environments). It is a long-term preventive medication.
If someone suspects they have been exposed to HIV, they should go to a hospital emergency room, a sexual health clinic, or a local public health center immediately to be evaluated for PEP.
Sexual Health: Some points to note about HIV transmission in the context of marriage.
I was updating my note for a virology class for my 500 level students and I felt prompted to put out these points about HIV:
●Abstinence remains the only 100% certain way to avoid HIV transmission. If you’re single, this is the safest choice for your health.
● Condoms can reduce the risk of transmission by up to 85%. However this depends on correct and consistent use. Despite its safety, it is prone to slippage or breakage during use, especially during rough intercourse. Condoms can come in handy for instances where one couple is HIV positive while the other is negative. In this case, the negative partner should consider condom use combined with PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis). This PrEP is a medication for people working in high-risk environments like doctors and other health workers who treat HIV patients.
● HIV is real and it’s in our communities. In Nigeria and across Africa, sexual transmission remains the primary way people acquire HIV. Like they say “e no dey show for face”. HIV positive persons can look beautiful, handsome and ravishing too. Don’t poisonous plants have attractive flowers too?
●The risk of transmission is not equal for men and women (you can say biology is not a feminist). When a man with HIV has unprotected s*x with a woman, the transmission risk per encounter is roughly 0.08–0.19%. When a woman with HIV has unprotected sx with a man, the risk of transmission is lower at 0.05–0.1%. This means women are biologically more vulnerable to acquiring HIV through heterosexual contact. This is why women cannot afford to be passive about their sexual health. However, this is just for emphasis. A risk is a risk nevertheless, irrespective of your gender! Act responsibly.
● When infidelity happens, testing is not optional, it’s survival. If your spouse has had sexual relations outside your marriage, the choice to forgive him/her is all yours to make; but understand that proof of health is important. Demand that he (or she) get tested for HIV and other STIs before any further intimate contact. This is not punishment, it’s protection of your own life. I say this often because I know it is an often ignored recommendation, and the guilty parties are often reluctant to go for a test. No apology, no promise, no explanation is worth your health.
●In polygynous marriages, the risk multiplies. If one partner in the household contracts HIV or an STI, it can spread to multiple spouses and their children. Men should be mindful of who they marry into their existing marriage. You know a lady is wayward, living a reckless life, yet you have your eyes set on her to marry as your second wife (as some claim they want to do Jihād on her). The problem is that you are not only putting yourself at risk, but your entire family as well! If HIV and other STI status is required in monogamy, it is even more important in polygyny.
●If you’ve been r*ped or fear you’ve been exposed to HIV, there is help. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a combination of HIV medications you can take within 72 hours (3 days) of exposure. It works best when started as soon as possible. If this has happened to you, go to a hospital or health clinic immediately, do not waste time. I will extend this to spouses that have had intercourse with their spouse only to discover they have recently been unfaithful. If the duration is within 72 hours, you can consider PEP as a precautionary measure alongside getting tested.
●Two to four weeks after exposure to HIV, some people develop flu-like symptoms: fever, fatigue, body aches, sore throat, or rash. Many mistake this for malaria or flu. If you’ve had unprotected s*x and develop these symptoms, get tested. Early detection changes everything.
●If you are pregnant, go for your antenatal visits. Part of what is done is checking your HIV status and ensuring prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the infection.
●HIV is no longer a death sentence. If you test positive, modern medications can reduce the virus to undetectable levels, allowing you to live a normal lifespan and preventing transmission to your partner. But you must start treatment and stay consistent.
●Protect yourself. Know your status. Infidelity is more than just breakage of trust. It is deliberately putting your spouse’s life at risk!
Abu Imrān
(Originally posted by Abu Imran on Facebook, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Only the title was given by me. The rest remains as it was posted on Facebook.)
