The History of Horses in Arabian Peninsula through Islamic Sources between the 3rd -10th AH/9th -15thCE Centuries
Dr. Mohammed Gaoui
Abstract
Horses are among the most prominent domesticated animals that have played a significant role in the lives of Arabs both before and after Islam. Arabs have long cared for and domesticated horses, making them a source of inspiration, a cornerstone of their lives, and their highest aspirations. They rode horses into battle, celebrated and boasted about them, and immortalized them in their poetry, whether settled or on the move. A true Arab would never part with their horse, regardless of the risks, a fact that inspired many historians to write about the importance of horses in Arab culture. The earliest writings on Arabian horses that have survived include The Lineage of Horses in the Pre-Islamic and Islamic Eras by Ibn al-Kalbi (d. 204 AH), followed by Horses by Abu Ubayda (d. 210 AH) and Horses by al-Asma’i (d. 216 AH). Some authors dedicated works specifically to the names of Arab horses and their riders, such as Ibn al-A’rabi (d. 231 AH) and al-Aswad al-Ghandajani (d. after 430 AH). Other notable works include The Virtue of Horses by al-Dimyati (d. 705 AH) and Raindrops on the Subject of Horses by al-Balqini (d. 805 AH). Furthermore, the eminent historian Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911 AH) authored a significant treatise titled The Dragging of the Tail in the Knowledge of Horses.This paper explores the history ofhorses inArabian Peninsula among Arabs through key Islamic sources that have been preserved to the present day, highlighting the dedicated works and treatises on this subject.