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Sahih al-BukhariLaws of Inheritance (Al-Faraa'id)

There were two women, each had her son with her. A wolf came and took away the son of one of them

Chapter: If a lady claims to be the mother of a son

Authentic hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 6769

Narrator:Abu Hurayrah

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ كَانَتِ

امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَاهُمَا، جَاءَ الذِّئْبُ فَذَهَبَ بِابْنِ إِحْدَاهُمَا فَقَالَتْ لِصَاحِبَتِهَا إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ‏.‏ وَقَالَتِ الأُخْرَى إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ‏.‏ فَتَحَاكَمَتَا إِلَى دَاوُدَ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى، فَخَرَجَتَا عَلَى سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ ـ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ ـ فَأَخْبَرَتَاهُ فَقَالَ ائْتُونِي بِالسِّكِّينِ أَشُقُّهُ بَيْنَهُمَا‏.‏ فَقَالَتِ الصُّغْرَى لاَ تَفْعَلْ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ‏.‏ هُوَ ابْنُهَا‏.‏ فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلصُّغْرَى ‏"

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "There were two women, each had her son with her. A wolf came and took away the son of one of them. One of them said to the other: 'The wolf took your son.' The other said: 'No, it took your son.' Both of them referred the dispute to Dawūd (David) (peace be upon him), who judged that the boy belonged to the older of them. Then they went to Sulaymān (Solomon), son of Dawūd (peace be upon both of them), and told him the story. Sulaymān (peace be upon him) said: 'Give me a knife so I may cut the child into two halves and give a half to each of them.' Thereupon, the younger woman said: 'Do not do it! May Allah have mercy upon you! The child is hers.' On that, he settled the dispute in favor of the younger woman."

Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 6769, 3426), Muslim (No. 1720a, 1720b) and An-Nasa’i (No. 5402).

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Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) relates to us in this Hadīth the story of two women who went out, each with her son. The wolf snatched away one of their two sons. Each of them claimed that the remaining child was hers. They brought their case to Dawūd (peace be upon him), who ruled that the child belonged to the older woman, based on his personal judgment, as the older one might be unable to have children, whereas the younger woman could have another baby in the future. As they departed, they went to Sulaymān (peace be upon him) and related the matter to him. Thereupon, he called for a knife and said: "I will rip him in two halves and give each of you one half." The older woman agreed. But the younger one refused, instead letting the baby be taken by the older one. Upon that, he decided that the baby belonged to the younger woman, based on evidence, as she mercifully preferred that he be taken by the other woman than him being ripped in two halves.

Explanation in Arabic

يخبرنا نبينا صلى الله عليه وسلم عن قصة امرأتين خرجتا بابنين لهما فأكل الذئب ابن واحدة منهما وبقي ابن الأخرى، فقالت كل واحدة منهما إنه لي، فتحاكمتا إلى داود -عليه السلام- فقضى به للكبرى منهما اجتهادا منه؛ لأن الكبرى ربما تكون قد توقفت عن الإنجاب، أما الصغرى شابة وربما تنجب غيره في المستقبل، ثم خرجتا من عنده إلى سليمان -عليه السلام- ابنه، فأخبرتاه بالخبر فدعا بالسكين، وقال: أشقه بينكما نصفين، فأما الكبرى فرحبت وأما الصغرى فرفضت، وقالت هو ابن الكبرى، أدركتها الشفقة والرحمة لأنه ابنها حقيقة فقالت هو ابنها يا نبي الله، فقضى به للصغرى ببينة وقرينة كونها ترحم هذا الولد وتقول هو للكبرى ويبقى حيا أهون من شقه نصفين، فقضى به للصغرى.

  • أخذ العلماء من هذا الحديث العمل بالقرائن وأنه يجوز للقاضي أن يحكم بالقرائن إذا كانت قوية.
  • أن الفطنة والفهم موهبة من الله تعالى لا تتعلق بكبر سن ولا صغره.
  • إن قضاء داود بالولد للكبرى لسبب اقتضى ترجيح قولها عنده وهو أن الكبرى ربما تكون قد توقفت عن الإنجاب أما الصغرى شابة وربما تنجب غيره في المستقبل؛ إذ لا بينة لإِحداهما.
  • فيه جواز حكم الأنبياء بالاجتهاد وإن كان وجود النص ممكنا لديهم بالوحي، ليكون في ذلك زيادة أجورهم ولعصمتهم من الخطأ إذ لا يقرون على الباطل لعصمتهم.

Classical commentary

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani — Fath al-Bari

10083 سَبَقَ شَرْحُهُ بِالْبَابِ…

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Scholars’ grades

Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 3426

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "My example and the example o the people is like that of a person who lit a fire and let the moths, butterflies and these insects fall in it." He also said, "There were two women, each of whom had a child with her. A wolf came and took away the child of one of them…

مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ النَّاسِ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا، فَجَعَلَ الْفَرَاشُ وَهَذِهِ الدَّوَابُّ تَقَعُ فِي النَّارِ ‏"‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ كَانَتِ امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَاهُمَا جَاءَ الذِّئْبُ فَذَهَبَ بِابْنِ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 1720a

While two women had been going along witn their two sons, a wolf came and made away with the child of one of them. One of them said to her companion: It is with your child that it (the wolf) has run away The other one said: It has run away with your child. They brought the matter to (Hadrat) Dawud…

بَيْنَمَا امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَاهُمَا جَاءَ الذِّئْبُ فَذَهَبَ بِابْنِ إِحْدَاهُمَا ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ هَذِهِ لِصَاحِبَتِهَا إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ أَنْتِ ‏.‏ وَقَالَتِ الأُخْرَى إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ ‏.‏…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 1720b

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu az-Zinad with the same chain of transmitters.

وَحَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنِي حَفْصٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مَيْسَرَةَ الصَّنْعَانِيَّ - عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أُمَيَّةُ بْنُ بِسْطَامَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا…

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 5402

The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "There were two woman who had two children, and the wolf came and took away the son of one of them. She said to her companion: 'It took away your son.' The other one said: 'No, it took away your son.' They referred the matter to Dawud, peace be upon him, for…

"‏ بَيْنَمَا امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَاهُمَا جَاءَ الذِّئْبُ فَذَهَبَ بِابْنِ إِحْدَاهُمَا فَقَالَتْ هَذِهِ لِصَاحِبَتِهَا إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ ‏.‏ وَقَالَتِ الأُخْرَى إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ ‏.‏…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Riyad as-Salihin 1827

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There were two women, each had her child with her. A wolf came and took away the child of one of them. One woman said to her companion: 'The wolf has taken your son.' The other said: 'It has taken your son.' So both of them took the dispute to Prophet Dawud (David)…

"‏كانت امرأتان معهما ابناهما، جاء الذئب فذهب بابن إحداهما، فقالت لصاحبتها‏:‏ إنما ذهب بابنك، وقالت الأخرى إنما ذهب بابنك فتحاكما إلى داود صلى الله عليه وسلم فقضى به للكبرى، فخرجتا على سليمان بن داود، صلى الله عليه وسلم…

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Mishkat al-Masabih 5719

He reported the Prophet as saying, "There were two women both of whom had a son, and a wolf went off with the son of one of them. Her companion said, `It has gone off with your son,' but the other replied, `It is with your son it has gone off.' They took the case before David and he decided that…

" كَانَتِ امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَاهُمَا جَاءَ الذِّئْبُ فَذَهَبَ بِابْنِ إِحْدَاهُمَا فَقَالَتْ صَاحِبَتُهَا: إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بابنك. وَقَالَت الْأُخْرَى: إِنَّمَا ذهب بابنك فتحاكما إِلَى دَاوُدَ فَقَضَى بِهِ…

Also reported by… (6)
  • السنن الكبرى للبيهقي (19611)بَيْنَمَا امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَاهُمَا ، جَاءَ الذِّئْبُ فَذَهَبَ بِابْنِ إِحْدَاهُمَا ، فَقَالَتْ هَذِهِ لِصَاحِبَتِهَا : إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ ، وَقَالَتِ الأُخْرَى : إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ ، فَتَحَاكَمَتَا إِلَى دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ، فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى ، فَخَرَجَتَا عَلَ
  • السنن الكبرى للنسائي (5754)بَيْنَمَا امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَاهُمَا جَاءَ الذِّئْبُ ، فَذَهَبَ بِابْنِ إِحْدَاهُمَا ، فَقَالَتْ هَذِهِ لِصَاحِبَتِهَا : إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ ، وَقَالَتِ الأُخْرَى : إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ ، فَتَحَاكَمَتَا إِلَى دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ، فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى فَخَرَجَتَا إِلَى
  • الفقيه والمتفقه للخطيب (341)بَيْنَمَا امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَاهُمَا جَاءَ الذِّئْبُ ، فَذَهَبَ بِابْنِ إِحْدَاهُمَا ، فَقَالَتْ : هَذِهِ لِصَاحِبَتِهَا ، إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ ، وَقَالَتِ الأُخْرَى : إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ ، فَتَحَاكَمَتَاإِلَى دَاوُدَ النَّبِيِّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ، فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى ، فَخَ
  • مستخرج أبي عوانة (5077)بَيْنَمَا امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَاهُمَا جَاءَ الذِّئْبُ ، فَذَهَبَ بِابْنِ إِحْدَاهُمَا ، فَقَالَتْ هَذِهِ لِصَاحِبَتِهَا : إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ ، وَقَالَتِ الأُخْرَى : إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ ، فَتَحَاكَمَتَا إِلَى دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ، فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى ، فَخَرَجَتَا عَلَ
  • مستخرج أبي عوانة (5078)بَيْنَمَا امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَاهُمَا إِذْ عَدَا الذِّئْبُ ، فَذَهَبَ بِابْنِ إِحْدَاهُمَا ، فَقَالَتْ هَذِهِ لِصَاحِبَتِهَا : إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ ، وَقَالَتِ الأُخْرَى : إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ , فَتَحَاكَمَتَا إِلَى دَاوُدَ ، فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى ، فَخَرَجَتَا عَلَى سُلَيْمَانَ
  • معالم التنزيل تفسير البغوي (810)كَانَتِ امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا ابْنَاهُمَا ، فَجَاءَ الذِّئْبُ ، فَذَهَبَ بِابْنِ إِحْدَاهُمَا ، فَقَالَتْ صَاحِبَتُهَا : إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكَ . وَقَالَتِ الأُخْرَى : إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَ بِابْنِكِ . فَتَحَاكَمَتَا إِلَى دَاوُدَ ، فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى ، فَخَرَجَتَا عَلَى سُلَيْمَانَ ، وَأَخْبَرَ

On the same subject

Authentic Sunan an-Nasa'i 5403

The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "Two women went out with two children of theirs, and the wolf attacked one of them and took her child. The next day they referred their dispute over the remaining child to Dawud, peace be upon him, and he ruled that (the child) belonged to the older woman. Then…

"‏ خَرَجَتِ امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا صَبِيَّانِ لَهُمَا فَعَدَا الذِّئْبُ عَلَى إِحْدَاهُمَا فَأَخَذَ وَلَدَهَا فَأَصْبَحَتَا تَخْتَصِمَانِ فِي الصَّبِيِّ الْبَاقِي إِلَى دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَقَضَى بِهِ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version

Differing grades Sunan an-Nasa'i 5404

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…

"‏ خَرَجَتِ امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا وَلَدَاهُمَا فَأَخَذَ الذِّئْبُ أَحَدَهُمَا فَاخْتَصَمَتَا فِي الْوَلَدِ إِلَى دَاوُدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى مِنْهُمَا فَمَرَّتَا عَلَى سُلَيْمَانَ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

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