Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ أَخْبَرَنِي نَافِعٌ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَثَلُ صَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ مَثَلُ صَاحِبِ الْإِبِلِ الْمُعَقَّلَةِ إِنْ عَقَلَهَا صَاحِبُهَا حَبَسَهَا وَإِنْ أَطْلَقَهَا ذَهَبَتْ.
English Translation
Yahya narrated to us, from 'Ubaydullah: Nafi' informed me, from Ibn 'Umar, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who said: "The example of the companion of the Qur'an is like the example of the owner of hobbled camels: if he keeps them tied he retains them, and if he lets them loose they go away."