65/4.12. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4585 — Accepting Prophetic Judgment in Disputes
"But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (Muhammad ﷺ) judge in all disputes between them..." (V.4:65)
Hadith About Accepting the Prophet’s Judgment in Disputes
Sahih Bukhari : 4585
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4585
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، قَالَ خَاصَمَ الزُّبَيْرُ رَجُلاً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فِي شَرِيجٍ مِنَ الْحَرَّةِ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اسْقِ يَا زُبَيْرُ ثُمَّ أَرْسِلِ الْمَاءَ إِلَى جَارِكَ ". فَقَالَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنْ كَانَ ابْنَ عَمَّتِكَ فَتَلَوَّنَ وَجْهُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ " اسْقِ يَا زُبَيْرُ ثُمَّ احْبِسِ الْمَاءَ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الْجَدْرِ، ثُمَّ أَرْسِلِ الْمَاءَ إِلَى جَارِكَ ". وَاسْتَوْعَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِلزُّبَيْرِ حَقَّهُ فِي صَرِيحِ الْحُكْمِ حِينَ أَحْفَظَهُ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، كَانَ أَشَارَ عَلَيْهِمَا بِأَمْرٍ لَهُمَا فِيهِ سَعَةٌ. قَالَ الزُّبَيْرُ فَمَا أَحْسِبُ هَذِهِ الآيَاتِ إِلاَّ نَزَلَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ {فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ}
`Urwa Narrated from:
Az-Zubair quarrelled with a man from the Ansar because of a natural mountainous stream at Al-Harra. The Prophet (ﷺ) said "O Zubair! Irrigate (your lands and the let the water flow to your neighbor The Ansar said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (This is because) he (Zubair) is your cousin?" At that, the Prophet's face became red (with anger) and he said "O Zubair! Irrigate (your land) and then withhold the water till it fills the land up to the walls and then let it flow to your neighbor." So the Prophet (ﷺ) enabled Az- Zubair to take his full right after the Ansari provoked his anger. The Prophet (ﷺ) had previously given a order that was in favor of both of them Az-Zubair said, "I don't think but the Verse was revealed in this connection:"But no, by your Lord, they can have no faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them." (4.65)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4585In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 107USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 109
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4585
This Hadith tells of a dispute between Az-Zubair and an Ansari man over water from a natural stream at Al-Harra. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم first gave a direction that allowed Az-Zubair to water his land and then pass the water to his neighbor. The Ansari objected and suggested favoritism because Az-Zubair was related to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Prophet’s face changed, and he then gave Az-Zubair his full right in clear terms: water the land, hold the water until it reached the walls, then let it flow to the neighbor. Az-Zubair connected this event to the verse about making the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم judge in disputes. The main message is about fair judgment, avoiding unfair accusations, and accepting the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم decision in disagreements.
What we learn from this hadith
- Disputes should be settled by fair judgment.
- Accusing a judge unfairly can make a matter worse.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم first gave a broad and easy instruction.
- Believers should accept the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم judgment in disputes.
