1/61. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 139a — Land Disputes and Oaths
Warning of the Fire for the one who swears a false oath in order to unlawfully take the right of another muslim
Hadith About Land Dispute: Evidence, Oaths, and Fear of Allah
Sahih Muslim : 139a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 139a
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَهَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ وَأَبُو عَاصِمٍ الْحَنَفِيُّ - وَاللَّفْظُ لِقُتَيْبَةَ - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَائِلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ حَضْرَمَوْتَ وَرَجُلٌ مِنْ كِنْدَةَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ الْحَضْرَمِيُّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا قَدْ غَلَبَنِي عَلَى أَرْضٍ لِي كَانَتْ لأَبِي . فَقَالَ الْكِنْدِيُّ هِيَ أَرْضِي فِي يَدِي أَزْرَعُهَا لَيْسَ لَهُ فِيهَا حَقٌّ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِلْحَضْرَمِيِّ " أَلَكَ بَيِّنَةٌ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " فَلَكَ يَمِينُهُ " . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ فَاجِرٌ لاَ يُبَالِي عَلَى مَا حَلَفَ عَلَيْهِ وَلَيْسَ يَتَوَرَّعُ مِنْ شَىْءٍ . فَقَالَ " لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنْهُ إِلاَّ ذَلِكَ " فَانْطَلَقَ لِيَحْلِفَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمَّا أَدْبَرَ " أَمَا لَئِنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى مَالِهِ لِيَأْكُلَهُ ظُلْمًا لَيَلْقَيَنَّ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ عَنْهُ مُعْرِضٌ " .
Wa'il Narrated from:
There came a person from Hadramaut and another one from Kinda to the Apostle (ﷺ). One who had come from Hadramaut said: Messenger of Allah, only this man has appropriated my land which belonged to my father. The one who had came from Kinda contended. This is my land and is in my possession: I cultivate it. There is no right for him in it.The Messenger of Allah said to the Hadramite: Have you any evidence (to support you)? He replied in the negative. He (the Messenger of Allah) said: Then your case is to be decided on his oath. He (the Hadramite) said: Messenger of Allah, he is a liar and cares not what he swears and has no regard for anything. Upon this he (the Messenger of Allah) remarked: For you then there is no other help to it.He (the man from Kinda) set out to take an oath. When he turned his back the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed: If he took an oath on his property with a view to usurping it, he would certainly meet his Lord in a state that He would turn away from him.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 139aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 265USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 257
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 139a
This hadith about land dispute presents two men with a claim over land. The man from Hadramaut said the other man had taken his father’s land. The man from Kinda said the land was his, in his possession, and that he cultivated it. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم asked the claimant if he had evidence. When he said no, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said the case would rest on the other man’s oath. The claimant feared the man would lie, but the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said there was no other way for him in that case. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم warned that if the man swore to take the property unjustly, he would meet his Lord while He turned away from him.
What we learn from this hadith
- A land claim needs evidence when brought for judgment.
- If no evidence is produced, the other party’s oath may decide the case.
- A false oath to take property unjustly carries a severe warning.
