Practice archery, O progeny of Isma‘īl; your forefather was an archer

Islam > Hadiths > Jurisprudence and juristic principles > Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles

Hadith narrated by Narrated by Bukhari

Authenticity grade : Authentic hadith

Updated on 24 September 2026 at 12:34 AM

📖 1 min read

Hadith text: Practice archery, O progeny of Isma‘īl; your forefather…

عن سَلَمَة بن الأكْوَع رضي الله عنه قال: مَرَّ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم على نَفَرٍ يَنْتَضِلُون، فقال: «ارْمُوا بَنِي إسماعيل، فإن أبَاكُم كان رَامِياً».

Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a group of people practicing archery and said: "Practice archery, O progeny of Isma‘īl; your forefather was an archer."

Explanation of the hadith: Practice archery, O progeny of Isma‘īl; your forefather…

Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) passed some of his Companions who were shooting arrows together; competing to see who would win. He approved of what they were doing and even encouraged them by saying: "Practice archery, O progeny of Isma‘īl," urging them to continue practicing archery, as it is one of the favors of Allah, the Exalted, upon the progeny of Isma‘īl, meaning: the Arabs. He said to do so, because their forefather, Isma‘īl, the son of Ibrahīm (may peace be upon both of them), was an excellent and skilled archer.

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