Were people to be given everything they claimed, some men would claim the properties and blood of (other) people. However, the onus of proof is on the plaintiff and the oath is upon the one who denies the claim (defendant)
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Were people to be given everything they claimed, some men would claim the properties and blood of other people. However, the onus of proof is on the plaintiff, and the oath is upon the one who denies the claim (defendant)."
Reported by Muslim (No. 1711a), Ibn Majah (No. 2321) and Ahmad (No. 3020). Cited in The Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi (No. 33).
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that if people were to be given on the mere basis of their claims without proof or evidence, people would claim the property and blood of others. However, a plaintiff is required to produce evidence and proof for his claim. If he has no proof, the claim shall be presented to the defendant, and in case he denies it, he is required to take an oath, after which he shall be acquitted.
Lessons
Ibn Daqīq al-Eid said: This Hadīth constitutes one of the fundamentals of rulings and the best reference when dispute and conflict occurs.
The Shariah came to protect people’s property and blood from manipulation.
A judge should not rule according to his knowledge, but he should refer to clear evidence.
If anyone claims without evidence, it shall be rejected, whether it pertains to rights and transactions or the issues of Imān and knowledge.
Explanation in Arabic
بَيَّنَ النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه لو يُعطى الناس بمُجَرَّدِ دَعواهم مِن غير أدلّة ولا قرائن لادَّعى أُناسٌ أموالَ قومٍ ودماءَهم، ولكن يجب على المُدَّعِي تقديمُ البينةِ والدليلِ بما يُطالِب، فإن لم يكن له بينة فتُعرَضُ الدعوى على المُدَّعَى عليه، فإن أنكرها فعليه الحَلِفُ ويَبْرَأ.
قال ابن دقيق العيد: وهذا الحديث أصل من أصول الأحكام، وأعظم مرجع عند التنازع والخصام.
الشريعة جاءت لحماية أموال الناس ودمائهم عن التلاعب.
القاضي لا يَحكم بعلمه وإنما يَرجع إلى البينات.
كل من ادّعى دعوى خالية عن برهان فهي مردودة، وسواء كانت في الحقوق والمعاملات أو في مسائل الإيمان والعلم.
Scholars’ grades
Original grading term, without a named scholar: حسن
"Were people to be given everything they claimed, some men would claim the properties and blood of (other) people. However, the onus of proof is on the plaintiff and the oath is upon the one who denies the claim (defendant)."
عَن ابنِ عباسٍ رضي الله عنهما أنَّ رسولَ اللهِ صلي الله عليه وسلم قال: «لَو يُعطَى النّاسُ بدَعواهُم لادَّعَى رِجالٌ أموالَ قَومٍ ودِماءَهُم، ولَكِنَّ البَيِّنَةَ على المُدَّعِى، واليَمينَ على مَن أنكَرَ».