Of the people who live the best kind of life is the man who holds the reins of his horse in the way of Allah
Authentic hadithعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن رسولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قالَ: "مِن خَيرِ مَعَاشِ النّاسِ لهم رَجُلٌ مُمْسِكٌ عِنَانَ فَرسِهِ في سبيلِ اللهِ، يَطيرُ على مَتنِهِ كُلَّما سَمِعَ هَيْعَةً أو فَزعَةً، طَارَ عَليه يَبْتَغِي القَتْلَ، أو المَوتَ مَظانَّه، أو رَجلٌ في غُنَيمَةٍ في رأسِ شَعفَةٍ من هذه الشَّعَفِ، أو بطنِ وادٍ من هذه الأوديةِ، يُقيمُ الصلاةَ، ويُؤتِي الزكاةَ، ويَعبدُ ربَّهُ حتى يَأتِيَه اليقينُ، ليسَ من النَّاسِ إلا في خيرٍ".
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Of the people who live the best kind of life is the man who holds the reins of his horse (ever ready to march) in the way of Allah, flies on its back whenever he hears the war cry or the command to face the enemy; he flies to it seeking martyrdom or death at places where it is expected. Or a man who lives with some sheep at a hill-top or in a valley, performs prayer regularly, gives Zakah and worships his Lord until death comes to him. He does not mix with people except for a good cause.”
Explanation
This Hadīth explains that one of the best ways of living is that of a man who is holding on to his horse's reins, i.e. ready to march in the cause of Allah. He gallops on its back whenever he hears the cry for war or the command to fight. He seeks thereby to be killed where death is expected out of his intense desire to become a martyr. The Hadīth also indicates that withdrawing and secluding oneself from the people is a good thing, and whoever is in a remote place, such as a valley or mountain pass, secluded from the people and worshiping Allah and mixing with people only when necessary for a good cause, then this is good for him.
Source · Narrated by Muslim
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).