Chapter on Miscellaneous Matters
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 3|Chapter 45
وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ اَلسَّكُونِيِّ: أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ مَرَّ عَلَى بَهِيمَةٍ وَ فَحْلٍ يَسْفَدُهَا عَلَى ظَهْرِ اَلطَّرِيقِ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ بِوَجْهِهِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ لِمَ فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ يَا أَمِيرَ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ "إِنَّهُ لاَ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ تَصْنَعُوا مَا يَصْنَعُونَ وَ هُوَ مِنَ اَلْمُنْكَرِ إِلاَّ أَنْ تُوَارُوهُ حَيْثُ لاَ يَرَاهُ رَجُلٌ وَ لاَ اِمْرَأَةٌ".
In the narration of Al-Sakooni, it is reported that Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام passed by an animal and a stud mating in the middle of the road, and Imam عليه السلام turned his face away. It was said to him: "Why did you do that, O Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "It is not appropriate for you to do what they do (i.e., allow such things publicly). It is among the unacceptable acts unless you conceal it where no man or woman can see it."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh