Equal Treatment of Children
Total Hadiths 31
Prophet Muhammad's Teachings on the Equal Treatment of Children
These prophetic narrations deliver a clear and direct message about family life in Islam. When Bashir brought his young son, An-Nu'man, to Prophet Muhammad to witness a special gift of a slave, the Prophet immediately asked if all his other children received the exact same gift. Upon learning that the other siblings were left out, the Prophet firmly refused to witness the act. Instead, he commanded the father to take the gift back, telling him to fear Allah and practice strict justice between his children. According to Islamic scholars, these texts emphasize that treating your children equally is a vital duty connected directly to your faith. Parents must avoid unfair favoritism to maintain peace and fairness within the household.
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، رُمْحٍ عَنِ اللَّيْثِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ، وَهْبٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . أَمَّا يُونُسُ وَمَعْمَرٌ فَفِي حَدِيثِهِمَا " أَكُلَّ بَنِيكَ " . وَفِي حَدِيثِ اللَّيْثِ وَابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ " أَكُلَّ وَلَدِكَ " . وَرِوَايَةُ اللَّيْثِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ وَحُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ بَشِيرًا جَاءَ بِالنُّعْمَانِ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with different chains of transmitters and a slight variation of words.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1623cIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 17USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3963
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَتِ امْرَأَةُ بَشِيرٍ انْحَلِ ابْنِي غُلاَمَكَ وَأَشْهِدْ لِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنَّ ابْنَةَ فُلاَنٍ سَأَلَتْنِي أَنْ أَنْحَلَ ابْنَهَا غُلاَمِي وَقَالَتْ أَشْهِدْ لِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " أَلَهُ إِخْوَةٌ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ " أَفَكُلَّهُمْ أَعْطَيْتَ مِثْلَ مَا أَعْطَيْتَهُ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " فَلَيْسَ يَصْلُحُ هَذَا . وَإِنِّي لاَ أَشْهَدُ إِلاَّ عَلَى حَقٍّ " .
Jabir Narrated from:
The wife of Bashir said (to her husband): Give to my son your slave as a gift, and make for me Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) a witness He came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: The daughter of so and so (his wife Amra bint Rawaha) asked me to give my slave as a gift to her son, and call for me Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as a witness. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Has he (Nu'man) brothers? He (Bashir) said: Yes. He (further) said: Have you given to all others as you have given to him? He said: No. He said: Then it is not fair; and verily I cannot bear witness but only to what is just.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1624In-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 25USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3971
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، أَنَّهُمَا حَدَّثَاهُ عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، أَتَى بِهِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي نَحَلْتُ ابْنِي هَذَا غُلاَمًا. فَقَالَ " أَكُلَّ وَلَدِكَ نَحَلْتَ مِثْلَهُ ". قَالَ لاَ. قَالَ " فَارْجِعْهُ ".
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
Narrated An-Nu`man bin Bashir: that his father took him to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "I have given this son of mine a slave." The Prophet asked, "Have you given all your sons the like?" He replied in the negative. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Take back your gift then."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2586In-book reference : Book 51, Hadith 20USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 47, Hadith 759
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ، بَكْرُ بْنُ خَلَفٍ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ انْطَلَقَ بِهِ أَبُوهُ يَحْمِلُهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ اشْهَدْ أَنِّي قَدْ نَحَلْتُ النُّعْمَانَ مِنْ مَالِي كَذَا وَكَذَا . قَالَ " فَكُلَّ بَنِيكَ نَحَلْتَ مِثْلَ الَّذِي نَحَلْتَ النُّعْمَانَ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " فَأَشْهِدْ عَلَى هَذَا غَيْرِي " . قَالَ " أَلَيْسَ يَسُرُّكَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا لَكَ فِي الْبِرِّ سَوَاءً " . قَالَ بَلَى . قَالَ " فَلاَ إِذًا " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
It was narrated that Nu'man bin Bashir said that his father took him to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: “Bear witness that I have given Nu'man such and such from my wealth.” He said: “Have you given all your children something like that which you have given to Nu'man?” He said: “No.” He said: “Then let someone other than me bear witness to that.” And he said: “Would you not like all your children to honor you equally?” He said: “Of course.” He said: “Then do not do this.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2375In-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 1English translation : Vol. 3, Book 14, Hadith 2375
حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَاهُ عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، نَحَلَهُ غُلاَمًا وَأَنَّهُ جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُشْهِدُهُ فَقَالَ " أَكُلَّ وَلَدِكَ نَحَلْتَ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " فَارْدُدْهُ " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
It was narrated from Nu'man bin Bashir that: his father gave him a gift of a slave, and he came to the Prophet (ﷺ) so that he could witness the gift. He said: “Have you given something to all of your children?” He said: “No.” He said: “Then take back (your gift).”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2376In-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 2English translation : Vol. 3, Book 14, Hadith 2376
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ، الرَّحْمَنِ وَعَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، يُحَدِّثَانِهِ عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ أَبَاهُ أَتَى بِهِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي نَحَلْتُ ابْنِي هَذَا غُلاَمًا كَانَ لِي . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَكُلَّ وَلَدِكَ نَحَلْتَهُ مِثْلَ هَذَا " . فَقَالَ لاَ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَارْجِعْهُ " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
Nu'man b. Bashir reported that his father brought him to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: I have donated this slave of mine to my son. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Have you donated to every one of your sons (a slave) like this? He said: No. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) said: Then take him back.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1623aIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 15USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3961
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ، عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ أَتَى بِي أَبِي إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي نَحَلْتُ ابْنِي هَذَا غُلاَمًا . فَقَالَ " أَكُلَّ بَنِيكَ نَحَلْتَ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " فَارْدُدْهُ " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
My father brought me to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: I have donated this slave to my son. whereupon he said: Have you made (such) donation to every one or your sons? He said: No. Thereupon he (the-Holy Prophet) said: Then take him back.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1623bIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 16USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3962
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا النُّعْمَانُ بْنُ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ وَقَدْ أَعْطَاهُ أَبُوهُ غُلاَمًا فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا هَذَا الْغُلاَمُ " . قَالَ أَعْطَانِيهِ أَبِي . قَالَ " فَكُلَّ إِخْوَتِهِ أَعْطَيْتَهُ كَمَا أَعْطَيْتَ هَذَا " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " فَرُدَّهُ " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
Nu'man b. Bashir reported that his father had donated a slave to him. Allah's Apostle (may peace he upon him) said: Who is this slave (how have you come to possess it)? Thereupon he (Nu'man b. Bashir) said: My father has donated it to me, whereupon he said: Have all brothers (of yours) been given this gift as given to you? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Then return him.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1623dIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 18USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3964
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّادُ بْنُ الْعَوَّامِ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَىَّ أَبِي بِبَعْضِ مَالِهِ فَقَالَتْ أُمِّي عَمْرَةُ بِنْتُ رَوَاحَةَ لاَ أَرْضَى حَتَّى تُشْهِدَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . فَانْطَلَقَ أَبِي إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيُشْهِدَهُ عَلَى صَدَقَتِي فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَفَعَلْتَ هَذَا بِوَلَدِكَ كُلِّهِمْ " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْدِلُوا فِي أَوْلاَدِكُمْ " . فَرَجَعَ أَبِي فَرَدَّ تِلْكَ الصَّدَقَةَ .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
My father donated to me some of his property. My mother Amra bint Rawaha said: I shall not be pleased (with this act) until you make Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) a witness to it. My father went to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) in order to make him the witness of the donation given to me. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to him: Have you done the same with every son of yours? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Fear Allah, and observe equity in case of your children. My father returned and got back the gift.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1623eIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 19USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3965
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَيَّانَ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، ح. وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَيَّانَ التَّيْمِيُّ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، حَدَّثَنِي النُّعْمَانُ بْنُ بَشِيرٍ، أَنَّ أُمَّهُ بِنْتَ رَوَاحَةَ، سَأَلَتْ أَبَاهُ بَعْضَ الْمَوْهِبَةِ مِنْ مَالِهِ لاِبْنِهَا فَالْتَوَى بِهَا سَنَةً ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُ فَقَالَتْ لاَ أَرْضَى حَتَّى تُشْهِدَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى مَا وَهَبْتَ لاِبْنِي . فَأَخَذَ أَبِي بِيَدِي وَأَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ غُلاَمٌ فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُمَّ هَذَا بِنْتَ رَوَاحَةَ أَعْجَبَهَا أَنْ أُشْهِدَكَ عَلَى الَّذِي وَهَبْتُ لاِبْنِهَا . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا بَشِيرُ أَلَكَ وَلَدٌ سِوَى هَذَا " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . فَقَالَ " أَكُلَّهُمْ وَهَبْتَ لَهُ مِثْلَ هَذَا " . قَالَ لاَ . قَالَ " فَلاَ تُشْهِدْنِي إِذًا فَإِنِّي لاَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى جَوْرٍ " .
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
Nu'man b. Bashir reported that his mother bint Rawaha asked his (Nu'man's) father about donating some gifts from his property to his son. He deferred the matter by one year, and then set forth to do that. She (Nu'man's mother) said: I shall not be pleased unless you call Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as witness to what you confer as a gift on your son.(Nu'man said): So father took hold of my hand and I was at that time a boy, and came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). and said: Allah's Messenger, the mother of this son (of mine), daughter of Rawaha wishes that I should call you witness to what I confer as gift to her son. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Bashir, have you any other son besides this (son of yours)? He said: Yes. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Have you given gifts to all of them like this? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Then call me not as witness, for I cannot be witness to an injustice.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1623fIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 20USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3966
