93/20. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7169 — Do Not Take False Rights
The advice of the Imam to the litigants
Hadith About Winning a Case but Taking a False Right
Sahih Bukhari : 7169
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7169
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ، وَإِنَّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ إِلَىَّ، وَلَعَلَّ بَعْضَكُمْ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَلْحَنَ بِحُجَّتِهِ مِنْ بَعْضٍ فَأَقْضِي نَحْوَ مَا أَسْمَعُ، فَمَنْ قَضَيْتُ لَهُ بِحَقِّ أَخِيهِ شَيْئًا فَلاَ يَأْخُذْهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أَقْطَعُ لَهُ قِطْعَةً مِنَ النَّارِ ".
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "I am only a human being, and you people (opponents) come to me with your cases; and it may be that one of you can present his case eloquently in a more convincing way than the other, and I give my verdict according to what I hear. So if ever I judge (by error) and give the right of a brother to his other (brother) then he (the latter) should not take it, for I am giving him only a piece of Fire." (See Hadith No. 638, Vol. 3).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7169In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 33USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 281
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7169
This hadith about justice and false claims gives a deep warning. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) says that he is a human being and that people bring disputes to him. One person may present his argument more clearly and more convincingly than the other, so the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) may judge according to what he hears. But if someone is given his brother’s right by such a judgment, he must not take it. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) describes it as only a piece of Fire. The hadith teaches that a court judgment based on speech does not make falsehood right before Allah. A person must fear Allah even after winning a case.
What we learn from this hadith
- A strong argument does not make a false claim lawful.
- A person must not take another’s right even if judgment appears in his favor.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) judged according to what he heard from disputing people.
- Justice before Allah is more important than winning through speech.
