31/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3684 — Unfair Gifts
Different Versions Of The Report Of Nu'man Bin Bashir Concerning Presents
Unfair Gifts to Children: A Clear Prophetic Question
Sunan an-Nasai : 3684
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3684
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّا، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، ح وَأَنْبَأَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا حِبَّانُ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ زَكَرِيَّا، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم - وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم - فَقَالَ إِنِّي تَصَدَّقْتُ عَلَى ابْنِي بِصَدَقَةٍ فَاشْهَدْ فَقَالَ " هَلْ لَكَ وَلَدٌ غَيْرُهُ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ " أَعْطَيْتَهُمْ كَمَا أَعْطَيْتَهُ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " أَأَشْهَدُ عَلَى جَوْرٍ " .
Abdullah bin 'Utbah bin Mas'ud Narrated from:
A man came to the Prophet and said: "I have given a gift to my son, so bear witness." He said: "Do you have any other children?" He said: "Yes." He said: "Have you given them something like that which you have given him?" He said: "No." He said: "Shall I bear witness to unfairness?"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3684In-book reference : Book 31, Hadith 13English translation : Vol. 4, Book 31, Hadith 3714
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3684
This short Hadith gives a strong warning about unfair gifts to children. A man told the Prophet that he had given something to his son and asked him to bear witness. The Prophet asked whether the man had other children. He then asked whether those children had received the same kind of gift. When the man said no, the Prophet responded with a question: should he bear witness to unfairness? That question makes the moral issue clear without adding details that are not in the narration. A witness should not be used to give an appearance of approval to an unequal act. The Hadith also teaches a practical habit for parents: before giving one child a special benefit, consider how the same decision relates to the other children.
What we learn from this hadith
- A witness should not be asked to support an act described as unfair.
- Parents should consider their other children before completing a special gift.
- Equal treatment was the standard raised by the Prophet in this event.
- A simple question can reveal unfairness in a family decision.
