Skip to content
Assabile

Sahih MuslimThe Book of Gifts

Then do not make me a witness, for I do not bear witness to injustice

Chapter: It Is Disliked To Favor Some Of One's Children Over Others In Gift-Giving

Authentic hadith of Sahih Muslim Sahih Muslim 1623f

Narrator:An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr

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‘mān ibn Bashīr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported:

His mother, Bint Rawāhah, asked his father for some of his wealth as a gift for her son. He hesitated for a year, but then he decided. She said: I will not be satisfied until you make the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) witness what you have given to my son. So, my father took my hand, and I was a young boy at that time, and he went to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He said: O Messenger of Allah, the mother of this, Bint Rawāhah, wishes for you to witness what I have given as a gift to her son. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Bashīr, do you have children other than this one?" He said: Yes. He then said: "Have you given them all the same gift as this?" He said: No. he said: "Then do not make me a witness, for I do not bear witness to injustice." And in the version of Muslim: "Then have someone else witness it, not me."

Reported by Muslim (No. 1623f), An-Nasa’i (No. 3681, 3682) and Ahmad (No. 17640).

Copy
Copy:
Report an error

Explanation

An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that his mother, ‘Amrah bint Rawāhah (may Allah be pleased with her), asked his father for a portion of his wealth as a gift for her son. He hesitated and delayed it for a year, but then he decided to respond to her request and give the gift to his son, an-Nu‘mān. She said: I will not be satisfied until you have the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) witness what you have given as a gift to my son. So, my father took my hand, and I was a young boy at that time, and he went to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, the mother of this, Bint Rawāhah, wishes for you to witness what I have given as a gift to her son. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: O Bashīr, do you have children other than this one? He said: Yes. He then said: Have you given them all the same gift as this? He said: No. He said: Then do not make me a witness, for I do not bear witness to injustice and oppression. And in the version of Muslim, he said to him reproachfully: Then have someone else witness it, not me.

Lessons

  • Justice is obligatory between sons and daughters in gifts and offerings. However, for financial maintenance, it is determined based on individual needs, each according to his requirements.
  • Favoring some children over others is injustice and oppression, and it is not permissible to bear witness to it, either in taking the testimony or in delivering it.
  • An-Nawawi said: One should treat his children equally in giving gifts, granting each one the same as the others without favoritism, and should treat men and females equally. Some of our fellow scholars said: A male should receive twice the share of a female, but the correct and famous view is that they should be treated equally, as indicated by the apparent meaning of the Hadīth.
  • Rulings that are contrary to the Shariah are invalid and do not take effect.
  • The ruler or the mufti should request details on matters that require further inquiry, as indicated by the Prophet's statement: "Did you do this for all your children?"
  • An-Nawawi said: This indicates the permissibility of a parent retracting his gift to the child.
  • The command to do what leads to harmony among siblings and to avoid what causes enmity between them or leads to undutifulness to parents.

Explanation in Arabic

أخبرَ النعمانُ بن بشير رضي الله عنهما أن أمه عمرة بنت رواحة رضي الله عنها سألت أباه بعض الموهبة من ماله لابنها، فتثاقل وأخّرها سنة، ثم بدا له أن يجيبها لطلبها فيهب ابنَه النعمان، فقالت:

لا أرضى حتى تشهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على ما وهبتَ لابني، فأخذ أبي بيدي وأنا يومئذ غلام صغير، فأتى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال:

يا رسول الله، إن أم هذا بنت رواحة أعجبها أنْ أشهدك على الذي وهبت لابنها، فقال صلى الله عليه وسلم:

يا بشير، ألك ولد سوى هذا؟

قال: نعم.

فقال: أكلّهم وهبت له مثل هذا؟

قال: لا.

قال: فلا تشهدني إذن، فإني لا أشهد على جور وظلم.

ولمسلم قال موبِّخًا له: ولكن أشهد على هذا الظلم غيري.

  • وجوب العدل بين الأبناء والبنات في العطايا والهبة، أما النفقة تقدر بالحاجة كل بحسبه.
  • تفضيل بعض الأولاد على بعض من الجَور والظلم، ولا تجوز فيه الشهادة تَحمُّلًا وأداءً.
  • قال النووي: ينبغي أنْ يسوّي بين أولاده في الهبة، ويهب لكل واحد منهم مثل الآخر ولا يفضّل، ويسوي بين الذكر والأنثى، وقال بعض أصحابنا: يكون للذكر مثل حظ الأنثيين، والصحيح المشهور أنه يسوي بينهما لظاهر الحديث.
  • الأحكام التي تقع على خلاف الشرع تبطل ولا تنفُذ.
  • استفصال الحاكم والمفتي عما يحتمل الاستفصال؛ لقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم:"أفعلت هذا بولدك كلهم"؟
  • قال النووي: وفيه: جواز رجوع الوالد في هبته للولد.
  • الأمر بفعل ما يؤدي إلى التآلف بين الإخوة، وترك ما يوقِع بينهم الشحناء أو يورِث العقوق للآباء.

Classical commentary

An-Nawawi — Sharh Sahih Muslim

قَوْله : ( فَالْتَوَى بِهَا سَنَة ) أَيْ مَطَلَهَا.…

Read more

Scholars’ grades

ScholarGradeApplies toWork
Muslimd. 261 AH Authenticصحيح The hadith صحيح مسلم No. 1623
Grades of other versions (2)
  • AuthenticAl-Albani صحيح — صحيح الجامع (2512)
  • Al-San'ani ورد بألفاظ كثيرة — التنوير شرح الجامع الصغير (4/222)

Other versions

Authentic Sunan an-Nasa'i 3681

"I will not be pleased until you ask the Messenger of Allah to bear witness." He said: "O Messenger of Allah, the mother of this boy, the daughter of Rawahah, insisted that I give a gift to him." The Messenger of Allah said: "O Bashir, do you have any other children besides this one?" He said…

أَلَكَ وَلَدٌ سِوَى هَذَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَفَكُلُّهُمْ وَهَبْتَ لَهُمْ مِثْلَ الَّذِي وَهَبْتَ لاِبْنِكَ هَذَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ ‏.‏ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى…

Narrated by An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr

Differing grades Sunan an-Nasa'i 3682

"My mother asked my father for a gift and he gave it to me. She said: 'I will not be contented until you ask the Messenger of Allah to bear witness.' So my father took me by the hand, as I was still a boy, and went to the Messenger of Allah. He said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the mother of this boy…

أَلَكَ ابْنٌ غَيْرُ هَذَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَوَهَبْتَ لَهُ مِثْلَ مَا وَهَبْتَ لِهَذَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَلاَ تُشْهِدْنِي إِذًا فَإِنِّي لاَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى جَوْرٍ ‏"

Narrated by An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr

Also reported by… (6)
  • البحر الزخار بمسند البزار (2817)أَلَيْسَ لَكَ ابْنٌ غَيْرُ هَذَا ؟ ، قَالَ : نَعَمْ ، قَالَ : فَوَهَبْتَ لَهُ مِثْلَ مَا وَهَبْتَ لِهَذَا ؟ ، قَالَ : لا ، قَالَ : فَلا تُشْهِدْنِي إِذًا ، فَإِنِّي لا أَشْهَدُ عَلَى جَوْرٍ
  • التمهيد لابن عبد البر (1218)ألك ابن غير هذا ؟ قال : نعم . قال : فوهبت له مثل الذي وهبت لهذا . قال : لا . قال : فلا تشهدني على جور
  • السنن الكبرى للنسائي (6279)أَلَكَ وَلَدٌ سِوَى هَذَا ؟ قَالَ : نَعَمْ ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ : أَفَكُلُّهُمْ وَهَبْتَ لَهُمْ مِثْلَ الَّذِي وَهَبْتَ لابْنِكَ هَذَا ؟ قَالَ : لا ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ : فَلا تُشْهِدْنِي إِذًا ، فَإِنِّي لا أَشْهَدُ عَلَى جَوْرٍ
  • السنن الكبرى للنسائي (6280)أَلَكَ ابْنٌ غَيْرُ هَذَا ؟ قَالَ : نَعَمْ ، قَالَ : فَوَهَبْتَ لَهُ مِثْلَ مَا وَهَبْتَ لِهَذَا ؟ قَالَ : لا ، قَالَ : فَلا تُشْهِدْنِي إِذًا ، فَإِنِّي لا أَشْهَدُ عَلَى جَوْرٍ
  • مستخرج أبي عوانة (4509)أَلَكَ ابْنٌ غَيْرُ هَذَا ؟ قَالَ : نَعَمْ ، قَالَ : فَوَهَبْتَ لَهُ مثل الَّذِي وَهَبْتَ لِهَذَا ؟ قَالَ : لا ، فَقَالَ : لا تُشْهِدْنِي إِذًا ، فَإِنِّي لا أَشْهَدُ عَلَى جَوْرٍ
  • مشكل الآثار للطحاوي (4473)لَكَ وَلَدٌ سِوَى هَذَا ؟ قَالَ : نَعَمْ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ : أَفَكُلَّهُمْ وَهَبْتَ لَهُمْ مِثْلَ الَّذِي وَهَبَتْ لابْنِكَ هَذَا ؟ . قَالَ : لا . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ : فَلا تُشْهِدْنِي إِذًا ، فَإِنِّي لا أَشْهَدُ عَلَى جَوْرٍ

On the same subject

Not graded Riyad as-Salihin 1773

My father took me to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said to him: "I have gifted one of my slaves to this son of mine." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Have you given such gift to every son of yours?" He replied, "No." Thereupon he said, "Take this gift back." Another narration is: The Messenger…

عن النعمان بن بشير رضي الله عنهما أن أبًا له أتي به رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال‏:‏ إني نحلت ابني هذا غلامًا كان لي، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏"‏أكل ولدك نحلته مثل هذا‏؟‏‏"‏ فقال‏:‏ لا، فقال رسول الله…

Narrated by An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr + 4 other versions

Not graded Al-Adab al-Mufrad 93

An-Nu'man ibn Bashir said that his father had carried him to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He said, 'Messenger of Allah, I testify to you that I have given an-Nu'man such-and-such. (It was a slave). The Prophet asked, "Have you given each of your children the…

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ‏:‏ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى الْقُرَشِيُّ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدَ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، أَنَّ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ حَدَّثَهُ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ…

+ 3 other versions

Authentic Sunan Ibn Majah 2375

“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…

"‏ فَكُلَّ بَنِيكَ نَحَلْتَ مِثْلَ الَّذِي نَحَلْتَ النُّعْمَانَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَأَشْهِدْ عَلَى هَذَا غَيْرِي ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَلَيْسَ يَسُرُّكَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا لَكَ فِي الْبِرِّ سَوَاءً ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ…

Narrated by An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr + 4 other versions

Authentic Sunan Abu Dawud 3545

Bashir's wife said (to her husband): Give my son your slave, and call the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as witness for me. So he came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: The daughter of so-and-so has asked me to give her som my slave and said to me: Call the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as witness for her…

لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَكُلَّهُمْ أَعْطَيْتَ مِثْلَ مَا أَعْطَيْتَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَلَيْسَ يَصْلُحُ هَذَا وَإِنِّي لاَ أَشْهَدُ إِلاَّ عَلَى حَقٍّ ‏"

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh + 3 other versions

Authentic Sahih Muslim 1623b

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.

إِنِّي نَحَلْتُ ابْنِي هَذَا غُلاَمًا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَكُلَّ بَنِيكَ نَحَلْتَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَارْدُدْهُ ‏"

Narrated by An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr + 2 other versions

Authentic Sahih Muslim 1623g

Have you, besides him, other sons? He said: Yes. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Have you given gifts to all of them like this (as you have given to Nu'man)? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: I cannot bear witness to an injustice.

أَلَكَ بَنُونَ سِوَاهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَكُلَّهُمْ أَعْطَيْتَ مِثْلَ هَذَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَلاَ أَشْهَدُ عَلَى جَوْرٍ ‏"

Narrated by An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr + 2 other versions

Topics

Sunday, October 11, 2026 30 ربيع الآخر 1448 هـ