Hadithcore
Riyad as-Salihin, 1773

An-Nu'man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) said:

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 of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Be mindful of your obligation to Allah and do justice in respect of your children." My father came back and revoked his gift. Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, "Have you other children besides this one?" He said, "Yes." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, "Have you awarded a gift like this to all of them." He said, "No." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "I am not going to bear witness to this act of injustice." Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, "Do you not except goodness from all of them as you except from him?" He said, "Yes, of course." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Then don't do this (i.e., do not give a gift to one son only)." <b>[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]</b>.

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 صلى الله عليه وسلم فأرجعه‏"‏‏.‏ وفي رواية‏:‏ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏"‏أفعلت هذا بولدك كلهم‏؟‏‏"‏ قال‏:‏ لا، قال‏:‏ ‏"‏اتقوا الله واعدلوا بين أولادكم‏"‏ فرجع أبي، فرد تلك الصدقة‏.‏ وفي رواية‏:‏ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ “يا بشير ألك ولد سوى هذا‏؟‏” قال‏:‏ نعم، قال‏:‏ “أكلهم وهبت له مثل هذا‏؟‏‏"‏ قال‏:‏ لا، قال‏:‏ ‏"‏فلا تشهدني إذًا فإني لا أشهد على جور‏"‏ وفي رواية ‏"‏لا تشهدني على جور‏"‏ وفي رواية‏:‏ ‏"‏أشهد على هذا غيري‏"‏ ثم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏أيسرك أن يكونوا إليك في البر سواء‏؟‏‏"‏ قال‏"‏ بلى، قال‏:‏ ‏"‏فلا إذًا‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant
In-Book Reference
Book 17, Hadith 263
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadith:</b><br> 1) It is prohibited to prefer some of one’s children over the others in terms of gifts. We are urged to treat our children equitably.<br> 2) When parents deal with their children justly, this inspires them to be good and kind to their parents. Educators should heed this rule.<br> <br> <b>Benefit:</b><br> The Hadith speaks about gifts, which are given freely. This differs from the due expenditure, which should be given to one’s children in proportion to their needs. Some may need more expenses than others because they pursue knowledge or the like. Justice in such a case is to give each what he or she needs, even if this leads to some disparity among the children. By contrast, when a parent grants gifts to his children, he should treat them equitably. Expenditure, on the other hand, should be estimated based on the relevant need and interest.<b>Benefit:</b><br> Some people prefer to give their children their shares of the inheritance before they die, assuming that this would avert discord among them. On the contrary, they fall into a number of violations,<br> most notably their transgression against the limits set by Allah Almighty with regard to the division of inheritance, which must take place after death. Allah Almighty says: {If he dies} After specifying the prescribed shares, He says:<br> {These are the limits [set by] Allah. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will admit him to gardens under which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. That is the supreme triumph. But whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits, He will cause him to enter the Fire, abiding therein forever, and for him there will be a humiliating punishment.}<br> Moreover, some of the prescribed shares may be excluded because some of the inheritors die suddenly before their bequeather. As a result, the prescribed shares and portions will be muddled, leading to increase or decrease or denial of the prescribed rights.<br> Also, rancor, hatred, dissension, and conflict arise between the heirs because of the wrongful division before the death of the inherited person. Females are mostly wronged in such divisions.<br> The list of the resultant evils goes on. Meanwhile, the bequeather claims that he wants nothing but good. May Allah be pleased with Ibn Mas‘ūd, who said: “There are many who intend good but cannot reach it!”<br> So, we are required to observe the Shariah limits, where all guidance and mercy exist. {If you obey him, you will be guided.} {And obey Allah and the Messenger, so that you may be given mercy.}
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