49/16. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5404 — The Mother Who Refused Harm
The Judge Undoing a Ruling Passed by Someone Else of His Caliber or Greater Than Him
Hadith About Mercy in Judgment and the Child of Two Women
Sunan an-Nasai : 5404
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5404
أَخْبَرَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مِسْكِينُ بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعَيْبُ بْنُ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " خَرَجَتِ امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا وَلَدَاهُمَا فَأَخَذَ الذِّئْبُ أَحَدَهُمَا فَاخْتَصَمَتَا فِي الْوَلَدِ إِلَى دَاوُدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى مِنْهُمَا فَمَرَّتَا عَلَى سُلَيْمَانَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ قَضَى بَيْنَكُمَا قَالَتْ قَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى . قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ أَقْطَعُهُ بِنِصْفَيْنِ لِهَذِهِ نِصْفٌ وَلِهَذِهِ نِصْفٌ . قَالَتِ الْكُبْرَى نَعَمِ اقْطَعُوهُ . فَقَالَتِ الصُّغْرَى لاَ تَقْطَعْهُ هُوَ وَلَدُهَا . فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلَّتِي أَبَتْ أَنْ يَقْطَعَهُ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet [SAW] said: "Two women went out with their two children, and the wolf took one of the children from them. They referred their dispute to Prophet Dawud, peace be upon him, and he ruled that (the remaining child) belonged to the older woman.Then they passed by Sulaiman, peace be upon him, and he said: 'How did he judge between you?' She said: 'He ruled that (the child) belongs to the older woman.' Sulaiman said: 'Cut him in half, and give half to one and half to the other.' The older woman said: 'Yes, cut him in half.' The younger woman said: 'Do not cut him, he is her child.' So he ruled that the child belonged to the woman who refused to let him be cut."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5404In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 26English translation : Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5406
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5404
This hadith about mercy in judgment tells how two women disputed over a remaining child after a wolf took one child from them. Prophet Dawud ruled that the child belonged to the older woman. When they passed by Prophet Sulaiman, he asked what had happened, then proposed that the child be cut in half and shared. The older woman agreed, but the younger woman refused and said the child belonged to the other woman, just to save him. Sulaiman then ruled that the child belonged to the woman who refused to let him be cut. The hadith shows that mercy can speak louder than a claim, and true concern may appear when harm is near.
What we learn from this hadith
- Mercy can reveal sincerity in a difficult dispute.
- The younger woman gave up her claim rather than see the child harmed.
- Prophet Sulaiman's judgment exposed the truth through their reactions.
- A person seeking justice should value life and mercy, not only victory.
