24/3. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1623i — Fair Gifts and Good Treatment from Children
It Is Disliked To Favor Some Of One's Children Over Others In Gift-Giving
Fairness Among Children and Good Family Behavior
Sahih Muslim : 1623i
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1623i
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، وَعَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَيَعْقُوبُ الدَّوْرَقِيُّ جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُلَيَّةَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِيَعْقُوبَ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ انْطَلَقَ بِي أَبِي يَحْمِلُنِي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اشْهَدْ أَنِّي قَدْ نَحَلْتُ النُّعْمَانَ كَذَا وَكَذَا مِنْ مَالِي . فَقَالَ " أَكُلَّ بَنِيكَ قَدْ نَحَلْتَ مِثْلَ مَا نَحَلْتَ النُّعْمَانَ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " فَأَشْهِدْ عَلَى هَذَا غَيْرِي - ثُمَّ قَالَ - أَيَسُرُّكَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا إِلَيْكَ فِي الْبِرِّ سَوَاءً " . قَالَ بَلَى . قَالَ " فَلاَ إِذًا " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
My father took me to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Allah's Messenger, bear witness that I have given such and such gift to Nu'man from my property, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Have you conferred upon all of your sons as you have conferred upon Nu'man? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Call someone else besides me as a witness. And he further said: Would it, please you that they (your children) should all behave virtuously towards you? He said: Yes. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Then don't do that (i e. don't give gift to one to the exclusion of others).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1623iIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 23USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3969
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1623i
This narration adds a wise question about family feelings. Nu'man’s father asked the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم to witness that he had given Nu'man a gift from his property. The Prophet asked whether he had given all his sons the same as he gave Nu'man. When he said no, the Prophet told him to call someone else as witness. Then he asked whether the father would like all his children to behave virtuously toward him. The father said yes, and the Prophet said not to do that. This hadith about fairness among children connects gift-giving with good family behavior. It teaches that unequal giving can be a serious family matter, so a parent should act with fairness and care.
What we learn from this hadith
- Parents should think about fairness before giving special gifts.
- The Prophet asked whether all sons received the same gift.
- The hadith connects fair giving with the desire for good treatment from children.
- The father was told not to proceed with the unequal gift.
