31/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3683 — Fairness in Family Gifts
Different Versions Of The Report Of Nu'man Bin Bashir Concerning Presents
Fairness in Family Gifts: Treat Children Without Favoritism
Sunan an-Nasai : 3683
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3683
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ أُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّ بَشِيرَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ امْرَأَتِي عَمْرَةَ بِنْتَ رَوَاحَةَ أَمَرَتْنِي أَنْ أَتَصَدَّقَ عَلَى ابْنِهَا نُعْمَانَ بِصَدَقَةٍ وَأَمَرَتْنِي أَنْ أُشْهِدَكَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ . فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هَلْ لَكَ بَنُونَ سِوَاهُ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ " فَأَعْطَيْتَهُمْ مِثْلَ مَا أَعْطَيْتَ لِهَذَا " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " فَلاَ تُشْهِدْنِي عَلَى جَوْرٍ " .
'Amir Narrated from:
I was told that Bashir bin Sa'd came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, my wife 'Amrah bint Rawahah told me to give a gift to her son Nu'man, and she told me to ask you to bear witness to that.' The Prophet said: 'Do you have any other children?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Have you given them something like that which you have given to this one?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Then do not ask me to bear witness to unfairness.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3683In-book reference : Book 31, Hadith 12English translation : Vol. 4, Book 31, Hadith 3713
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3683
This Hadith centers on fairness in family gifts. Bashir bin Sa'd came to the Messenger of Allah after his wife asked him to give something to her son Nu'man and to have the Prophet witness it. The Prophet asked whether Bashir had other children and whether he had given them something similar. Bashir said no. The Prophet then told him not to ask for his witness to unfairness. The account shows that the key concern was not simply whether a gift had been announced. The concern was how one child was treated compared with the others. For parents searching for guidance on favoritism between children, this narration offers a plain principle from the event: do not ask someone to approve unequal giving as though it were fair.
What we learn from this hadith
- Family gifts should be reviewed for fairness between children.
- The Prophet asked about every child affected by the father's choice.
- He refused to witness what the Hadith calls unfairness.
- A parent's decision should not favor one child without considering the others in the same situation.
