31/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3673 — Family Fairness When Giving Presents
Different Versions Of The Report Of Nu'man Bin Bashir Concerning Presents
Fairness Among Children in Gifts: The Prophet's Question
Sunan an-Nasai : 3673
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3673
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، وَالْحَارِثُ بْنُ مِسْكِينٍ، قِرَاءَةً عَلَيْهِ وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ، يُحَدِّثَانِهِ عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، أَتَى بِهِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي نَحَلْتُ ابْنِي غُلاَمًا كَانَ لِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ " أَكُلَّ وَلَدِكَ نَحَلْتَهُ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَارْجِعْهُ " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
It was narrated from An-Nu'man bin Bashir that his father brought him to the Messenger of Allah and said: "I have given my son a slave of mine as a present." The Messenger of Allah said: "Have you given a present to all of your children?" He said: "No." The Messenger of Allah said: "Then take (your present) back."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3673In-book reference : Book 31, Hadith 2English translation : Vol. 4, Book 31, Hadith 3703
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3673
This hadith on fairness among children in gifts reports that An-Nu'man's father brought him to the Messenger of Allah after giving him a slave. The Prophet asked whether a present had been given to all of the father's children. The father said no, and the Prophet told him to take the present back. The order came after a clear comparison between the child who received the gift and the children who did not. The narration does not provide extra family circumstances, so it should be read according to its own wording. Its practical message is that parents should not look only at the child receiving something. They should also consider how the gift compares with their treatment of the rest of their children.
What we learn from this hadith
- A special gift to one child was reviewed in light of all the children.
- The father answered honestly that he had not given to every child.
- The Prophet directed him to take the present back.
