24/3. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1623e — Fear Allah and Be Fair to Children
It Is Disliked To Favor Some Of One's Children Over Others In Gift-Giving
Fear Allah and Be Fair to Your Children: A Gift-Giving Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 1623e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1623e
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّادُ بْنُ الْعَوَّامِ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَىَّ أَبِي بِبَعْضِ مَالِهِ فَقَالَتْ أُمِّي عَمْرَةُ بِنْتُ رَوَاحَةَ لاَ أَرْضَى حَتَّى تُشْهِدَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . فَانْطَلَقَ أَبِي إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيُشْهِدَهُ عَلَى صَدَقَتِي فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَفَعَلْتَ هَذَا بِوَلَدِكَ كُلِّهِمْ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْدِلُوا فِي أَوْلاَدِكُمْ " . فَرَجَعَ أَبِي فَرَدَّ تِلْكَ الصَّدَقَةَ .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
My father donated to me some of his property. My mother Amra bint Rawaha said: I shall not be pleased (with this act) until you make Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) a witness to it. My father went to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) in order to make him the witness of the donation given to me. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to him: Have you done the same with every son of yours? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Fear Allah, and observe equity in case of your children. My father returned and got back the gift.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1623eIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 19USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3965
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1623e
This hadith gives one of the clearest wordings on fairness among children. Nu'man b. Bashir said his father donated some property to him. His mother, Amrah bint Rawahah, wanted the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم to witness it. When the father came to the Prophet, he was asked whether he had done the same with every son. He said no. The Prophet then said: fear Allah and observe equity in your children. The father returned and took back the gift. This is a direct hadith about treating children fairly, especially in gifts and property. The text connects fairness with taqwa, fear of Allah. It also shows that a parent may need to correct a gift when it is not fair.
What we learn from this hadith
- Fairness among children is linked with fearing Allah.
- The Prophet asked whether every son received the same treatment.
- The father corrected the matter by taking back the gift.
- A parent should not seek approval for an unfair gift.
