49/35. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5424 — Fair Ruling Without Evidence
Passing Judgment When There is no Evidence
Hadith About Evidence in Disputes and Equal Sharing
Sunan an-Nasai : 5424
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5424
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، أَنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ، اخْتَصَمَا إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي دَابَّةٍ لَيْسَ لِوَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بَيِّنَةٌ فَقَضَى بِهَا بَيْنَهُمَا نِصْفَيْنِ .
Abu Musa Narrated from:
Two men referred a dispute to the Prophet [SAW] concerning an animal, and neither of them had any evidence, so he ruled that it be shared equally between them.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5424In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 46English translation : Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5426
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5424
This hadith about evidence in disputes gives a simple case from the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم judgment. Two men brought a dispute about an animal. Neither of them had evidence. The ruling was that the animal be shared equally between them. The text teaches the place of proof in a claim. When neither side can bring evidence, the ruling cannot simply favor one person over the other. The result here was a balanced division. For readers searching for Islamic dispute resolution, this hadith shows how claims need support and how fairness is sought when proof is missing. It is a practical lesson in measured judgment. It also keeps each side from taking the entire matter without proof.
What we learn from this hadith
- Claims in disputes need evidence.
- When neither side has proof, a fair division may be used.
- A ruling should avoid giving everything to one side without clear support.
