He was on a journey with 'Aisha, and she raced with him on foot and beat him. She said: "Then, when I gained weight, I raced him again, and he beat me." He said: "This is for that." Recorded by Abu Dawud (7). Salama ibn al-Akwa' also raced a man from the Ansar in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on the day of Dhu Qarad (8). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wrestled Rukanah and threw him down. Recorded by al-Tirmidhi (9). He also passed by some people who were lifting a stone—meaning they were raising it to determine which of them was the strongest—and he did not rebuke them (10). Other forms of racing are measured against this. As for racing with a wager, it is not permissible except between horses, camels, and archery, for reasons we will mention, if Allah the Almighty wills. These three are uniquely distinguished by the permissibility of a wager in them because they are instruments of war that one is commanded to learn, master, and excel in. Racing with them involving a wager constitutes an exaggeration in the effort to perfect and master them, and the Law (Shari'ah) has come with commands regarding them and encouragement for their practice. Allah the Almighty said: "And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy" (11). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Indeed, power is archery; indeed, power is archery" (12). Sa'id narrated in his "Sunan" (13) from Khalid ibn Zayd, who said: "I was a man who practiced archery, and 'Uqba ibn"