65/3.3. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4552 — Claims, Proof and Oaths
"Verily, those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter (Paradise)... (till) ... and they shall have a painful torment." (V.3 -77)
{أَلِيمٌ} مُؤْلِمٌ مُوجِعٌ مِنَ الأَلَمِ، وَهْوَ فِي مَوْضِعِ مُفْعِلٍ.
Hadith About Proof, Claims and the Defendant’s Oath
Sahih Bukhari : 4552
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4552
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ نَصْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دَاوُدَ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، أَنَّ امْرَأَتَيْنِ، كَانَتَا تَخْرِزَانِ فِي بَيْتٍ ـ أَوْ فِي الْحُجْرَةِ ـ فَخَرَجَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا وَقَدْ أُنْفِذَ بِإِشْفًى فِي كَفِّهَا، فَادَّعَتْ عَلَى الأُخْرَى، فَرُفِعَ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ يُعْطَى النَّاسُ بِدَعْوَاهُمْ لَذَهَبَ دِمَاءُ قَوْمٍ وَأَمْوَالُهُمْ ". ذَكِّرُوهَا بِاللَّهِ وَاقْرَءُوا عَلَيْهَا {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ}. فَذَكَّرُوهَا فَاعْتَرَفَتْ، فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْيَمِينُ عَلَى الْمُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِ ".
Ibn Abu Mulaika Narrated from:
Two women were stitching shoes in a house or a room. Then one of them came out with an awl driven into her hand, and she sued the other for it. The case was brought before Ibn `Abbas, Ibn `Abbas said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'If people were to be given what they claim (without proving their claim) the life and property of the nation would be lost.' Will you remind her (i.e. the defendant), of Allah and recite before her:--"Verily! Those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths..."(3.77)So they reminded her and she confessed. Ibn `Abbas then said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The oath is to be taken by the defendant (in the absence of any proof against him).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4552In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 74USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 74
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4552
This Hadith gives an important rule about claims and proof. Two women were stitching shoes, and one came out with an awl in her hand, accusing the other. When the case was brought to Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما, he quoted the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: if people were given whatever they claimed, lives and property would be lost. He told them to remind the defendant of Allah and recite the verse about oaths. When she was reminded, she confessed. Ibn Abbas then quoted the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم again: the oath is upon the defendant when there is no proof against him. The main lesson is simple: justice cannot run on claims alone. It needs proof, honesty, and fear of Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Claims alone are not enough to decide a case.
- Without proof, people’s lives and property would be at risk.
- The defendant takes the oath when proof is absent.
- Reminding someone of Allah can lead to confession and honesty.
