93/31. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7185 — Fair Judgment
To judge cases involving wealth
وَقَالَ ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ شُبْرُمَةَ الْقَضَاءُ فِي قَلِيلِ الْمَالِ وَكَثِيرِهِ سَوَاءٌ.
Hadith About Fair Judgment and Speaking Truth in Disputes
Sahih Bukhari : 7185
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7185
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، أَخْبَرَتْهُ عَنْ أُمِّهَا أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَتْ سَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَلَبَةَ خِصَامٍ عِنْدَ بَابِهِ فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ " إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ، وَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِينِي الْخَصْمُ، فَلَعَلَّ بَعْضًا أَنْ يَكُونَ أَبْلَغَ مِنْ بَعْضٍ، أَقْضِي لَهُ بِذَلِكَ وَأَحْسِبُ أَنَّهُ صَادِقٌ، فَمَنْ قَضَيْتُ لَهُ بِحَقِّ مُسْلِمٍ فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ قِطْعَةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ، فَلْيَأْخُذْهَا أَوْ لِيَدَعْهَا ".
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) heard the voices of some people quarreling near his gate, so he went to them and said, "I am only a human being and litigants with cases of disputes come to me, and maybe one of them presents his case eloquently in a more convincing and impressive way than the other, and I give my verdict in his favor thinking he is truthful. So if I give a Muslim's right to another (by mistake), then that (property) is a piece of Fire, which is up to him to take it or leave it." (See Hadith No. 281)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7185In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 47USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 295
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7185
This hadith is another narration of the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم warning about disputes and fair judgment. He heard raised voices near his gate and came out to them. He explained that he was only a human being, and that disputing parties came before him. One person might present his case more strongly than another, causing a judgment to be given in his favor. But if that judgment gives him the right of a Muslim by mistake, then what he receives is described as a piece of Fire. The hadith about fair judgment makes the point clear: a person must not depend on clever speech to take what does not belong to him. The real truth remains with Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person should not use strong speech to win what is not his.
- Judgment is based on what is presented, but Allah knows the real truth.
- Taking another Muslim’s right unjustly is described as a piece of Fire.
- The person who receives such a judgment must choose to leave the wrongfully gained right.
