24/3. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1623a — Fairness in Gifts to Children
It Is Disliked To Favor Some Of One's Children Over Others In Gift-Giving
Hadith About Fairness in Gifts to Children
Sahih Muslim : 1623a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1623a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ، الرَّحْمَنِ وَعَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، يُحَدِّثَانِهِ عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ أَبَاهُ أَتَى بِهِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي نَحَلْتُ ابْنِي هَذَا غُلاَمًا كَانَ لِي . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَكُلَّ وَلَدِكَ نَحَلْتَهُ مِثْلَ هَذَا " . فَقَالَ لاَ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَارْجِعْهُ " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
Nu'man b. Bashir reported that his father brought him to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: I have donated this slave of mine to my son. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Have you donated to every one of your sons (a slave) like this? He said: No. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) said: Then take him back.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1623aIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 15USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3961
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1623a
This hadith about fairness among children gives a very practical family lesson. Nu'man b. Bashir’s father brought him to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and said that he had donated a slave to his son. The Prophet did not approve it right away. He first asked whether every son had received the same kind of gift. When the father said no, the Prophet told him to take it back. The text focuses on fairness in gifts to children. It does not discuss every family situation, but it clearly warns against giving one child a special gift while the others are left out. For parents, the teaching is simple: fear unfair treatment and be careful before giving gifts that may favor one child over another.
What we learn from this hadith
- Parents should consider fairness when giving gifts to children.
- The Prophet asked whether the other sons received the same gift.
- An unequal gift in this case was ordered to be taken back.
- The lesson is tied directly to gift-giving within the family.
