وَ رُوِيَ عَنِ اَلْعَلاَءِ بْنِ سَيَابَةَ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ شَهَادَةِ مَنْ يَلْعَبُ بِالْحَمَامِ قَالَ "لاَ بَأْسَ إِذَا كَانَ لاَ يُعْرَفُ بِفِسْقٍ" قُلْتُ فَإِنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا يَقُولُونَ قَالَ عُمَرُ هُوَ شَيْطَانٌ فَقَالَ "سُبْحَانَ اَللَّهِ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ قَالَ "إِنَّ اَلْمَلاَئِكَةَ لَتَنْفِرُ عِنْدَ اَلرِّهَانِ وَ تَلْعَنُ صَاحِبَهُ مَا خَلاَ اَلْحَافِرَ وَ اَلْخُفَّ وَ اَلرِّيشَ وَ اَلنَّصْلَ فَإِنَّهَا تَحْضُرُهَا اَلْمَلاَئِكَةُ" وَ قَدْ سَابَقَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ وَ أَجْرَى اَلْخَيْلَ".
And it was narrated from Al-Ala ibn Sayabah who said: I asked Abu Abdullah (a.s), about the testimony of one who plays with pigeons. Imam (a.s) said: "There is no harm if he is not known for sinfulness." I said: The people around us say that Umar called them to be a 'devil'. Imam (a.s) replied: "Glory be to Allah (swt)! Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: 'Indeed, the angels flee from gambling and curse its participant, except for activities involving hoofs, claws, feathers, and arrows, for the angels attend such activities.' And the Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, raced with Usamah ibn Zayd and ran horses."