The Prophet ﷺ said: He who has been appointed a judge has been killed without a knife.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ وَلِيَ الْقَضَاءَ فَقَدْ ذُبِحَ بِغَيْرِ سِكِّينٍ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: He who has been appointed a judge among the people has been killed without a knife.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ جُعِلَ قَاضِيًا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فَقَدْ ذُبِحَ بِغَيْرِ سِكِّينٍ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: Judges are of three types, one of whom will go to Paradise and two to Hell. The one who will go to Paradise is a man who knows what is right and gives judgment accordingly; but a man who knows what is right and acts tyrannically in his judgment will go to Hell; and a man who gives judgment for people when he is ignorant will go to Hell. Abu Dawud said: On this subject this is the soundest tradition, that is, the tradition of Ibn Buraidah: Judges are of three types.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ الْقُضَاةُ ثَلاَثَةٌ وَاحِدٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَاثْنَانِ فِي النَّارِ فَأَمَّا الَّذِي فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَرَجُلٌ عَرَفَ الْحَقَّ فَقَضَى بِهِ وَرَجُلٌ عَرَفَ الْحَقَّ فَجَارَ فِي الْحُكْمِ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ وَرَجُلٌ قَضَى لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى جَهْلٍ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ  

'If a judge passes a judgment having exerted himself to arrive at what is correct, and he is indeed correct, he will have two rewards. If he passes judgment having exerted himself to arrive at what is correct, but it is incorrect, he will have one reward.'" I narrated it to Abu Bakr bin Hazm and he said: "This is what Abu Salamah narrated to me from Abu Hurairah.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا حَكَمَ الْحَاكِمُ فَاجْتَهَدَ فَأَصَابَ فَلَهُ أَجْرَانِ وَإِذَا حَكَمَ فَاجْتَهَدَ فَأَخْطَأَ فَلَهُ أَجْرٌ فَحَدَّثْتُ بِهِ أَبَا بَكْرِ بْنَ حَزْمٍ فَقَالَ هَكَذَا حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: If anyone seeks the office of judge among Muslims till he gets it and his justice prevails over his tyranny, he will go to Paradise; but the man whose tyranny prevails over his justice will go to Hell.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ طَلَبَ قَضَاءَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ حَتَّى يَنَالَهُ ثُمَّ غَلَبَ عَدْلُهُ جَوْرَهُ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ وَمَنْ غَلَبَ جَوْرُهُ عَدْلَهُ فَلَهُ النَّارُ  

"If any do fail to judge (by the light of) what Allah has revealed, they are (no better than) unbelievers" up to "wrongdoers." These three verses were revealed about the Jews, particularly about Quraizah and al-Nadir.  

{ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ } إِلَى قَوْلِهِ { الْفَاسِقُونَ } هَؤُلاَءِ الآيَاتُ الثَّلاَثُ نَزَلَتْ فِي الْيَهُودِ خَاصَّةً فِي قُرَيْظَةَ وَالنَّضِيرِ  

Two men from the locality of Kindah came while AbuMas'ud al-Ansari was sitting n a circle. They said: Is there any man who decides between us. A man from the circle said: I, AbuMas'ud took a handful of pebbles and threw at him, saying: Hush! It is disapproved to make haste in decision.  

دَخَلَ رَجُلاَنِ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ كِنْدَةَ وَأَبُو مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ جَالِسٌ فِي حَلْقَةٍ فَقَالاَ أَلاَ رَجُلٌ يُنَفِّذُ بَيْنَنَا فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْحَلْقَةِ أَنَا فَأَخَذَ أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ كَفًّا مِنْ حَصًى فَرَمَاهُ بِهِ وَقَالَ مَهْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ يُكْرَهُ التَّسَرُّعُ إِلَى الْحُكْمِ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: If anyone desires the office of Judge and seeks help for it, he will be left to his own devices; if anyone does not desire it, nor does he seek help for it, Allah will send down an angel who will direct him aright. Waki' said: (This tradition has also been transmitted) by Isra'il, from 'Abd al-A'la, from Bilal bin Abi Musa, from Anas, from the Prophet ﷺ. Abu 'Awanah said: from 'Abd al-A'la, from Bilal bin Mirdas al-Fazari, from Khaithamah al-Basri from Anas.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنْ طَلَبَ الْقَضَاءَ وَاسْتَعَانَ عَلَيْهِ وُكِلَ إِلَيْهِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَطْلُبْهُ وَلَمْ يَسْتَعِنْ عَلَيْهِ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مَلَكًا يُسَدِّدُهُ وَقَالَ وَكِيعٌ عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى عَنْ بِلاَلِ بْنِ أَبِي مُوسَى عَنْ أَنَسٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَقَالَ أَبُو عَوَانَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى عَنْ بِلاَلِ بْنِ مِرْدَاسٍ الْفَزَارِيِّ عَنْ خَيْثَمَةَ الْبَصْرِيِّ عَنْ أَنَسٍ  

"We will never employ or we shall not employ (the narrator is doubtful) in our work one who wants it."  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَنْ نَسْتَعْمِلَ أَوْ لاَ نَسْتَعْمِلُ عَلَى عَمَلِنَا مَنْ أَرَادَهُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed the one who bribes and the one who takes bribe.  

لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الرَّاشِيَ وَالْمُرْتَشِيَ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: O people, if any of you is put in an administrative post on our behalf and conceals from us a needle or more, he is acting unfaithfully, and will bring it on the Day of Resurrection. A black man from the Ansar, as if I am seeing him, stood and said: Messenger of Allah, take back from me my post. He asked: What is that? He replied: I heard you say such and such. He said: And I say that. If we appoint anyone to an office, he must bring what is connected with it, both little and much. What he is given, he may take, and he must refrain from what is kept away from him.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنْكُمْ لَنَا عَلَى عَمَلٍ فَكَتَمَنَا مِنْهُ مِخْيَطًا فَمَا فَوْقَهُ فَهُوَ غُلٌّ يَأْتِي بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ أَسْوَدُ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اقْبَلْ عَنِّي عَمَلَكَ قَالَ وَمَا ذَاكَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُكَ تَقُولُ كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ وَأَنَا أَقُولُ ذَلِكَ مَنِ اسْتَعْمَلْنَاهُ عَلَى عَمَلٍ فَلْيَأْتِ بِقَلِيلِهِ وَكَثِيرِهِ فَمَا أُوتِيَ مِنْهُ أَخَذَهُ وَمَا نُهِيَ عَنْهُ انْتَهَى  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me to the Yemen as judge, and I asked: Messenger of Allah, are you sending me when I am young and have no knowledge of the duties of a judge? He replied: Allah will guide your heart and keep your tongue true. When two litigants sit in front of you, do not decide till you hear what the other has to say as you heard what the first had to say; for it is best that you should have a clear idea of the best decision. He said: I had been a judge (for long); or he said (the narrator is doubtful): I have no doubts about a decision afterwards.  

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ قَاضِيًا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تُرْسِلُنِي وَأَنَا حَدِيثُ السِّنِّ وَلاَ عِلْمَ لِي بِالْقَضَاءِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيَهْدِي قَلْبَكَ وَيُثَبِّتُ لِسَانَكَ فَإِذَا جَلَسَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ الْخَصْمَانِ فَلاَ تَقْضِيَنَّ حَتَّى تَسْمَعَ مِنَ الآخَرِ كَمَا سَمِعْتَ مِنَ الأَوَّلِ فَإِنَّهُ أَحْرَى أَنْ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الْقَضَاءُ قَالَ فَمَا زِلْتُ قَاضِيًا أَوْ مَا شَكَكْتُ فِي قَضَاءٍ بَعْدُ  

"I am only a human being, and you bring your disputes to me, some perhaps being more eloquent in their plea than others, so that I give judgement on their behalf according to what I hear from them. Therefore, whatever I decide for anyone which by right belongs to his brother, he must not take anything, for I am granting him only a portion of Hell.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ وَإِنَّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ إِلَىَّ وَلَعَلَّ بَعْضَكُمْ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَلْحَنَ بِحُجَّتِهِ مِنْ بَعْضٍ فَأَقْضِيَ لَهُ عَلَى نَحْوِ مَا أَسْمَعُ مِنْهُ فَمَنْ قَضَيْتُ لَهُ مِنْ حَقِّ أَخِيهِ بِشَىْءٍ فَلاَ يَأْخُذْ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا فَإِنَّمَا أَقْطَعُ لَهُ قِطْعَةً مِنَ النَّارِ  

Two men came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who were disputing over their inheritance. They had no evidence except their claim. The Prophet ﷺ then said in a similar way. Thereupon both the men wept and each of them said: This right of mine go to you. The Prophet ﷺ then said: Now you have done whatever you have done ; do divide it up, aiming at what is right, then drew lots, and let each of you consider the other to have what is legitimately his"  

أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَجُلاَنِ يَخْتَصِمَانِ فِي مَوَارِيثَ لَهُمَا لَمْ تَكُنْ لَهُمَا بَيِّنَةٌ إِلاَّ دَعْوَاهُمَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ مِثْلَهُ فَبَكَى الرَّجُلاَنِ وَقَالَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا حَقِّي لَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَمَّا إِذْ فَعَلْتُمَا مَا فَعَلْتُمَا فَاقْتَسِمَا وَتَوَخَّيَا الْحَقَّ ثُمَّ اسْتَهِمَا ثُمَّ تَحَالاَّ  

I decide between you on the basis of my opinion in cases about which no revelation has been sent down to me.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ يَخْتَصِمَانِ فِي مَوَارِيثَ وَأَشْيَاءَ قَدْ دَرَسَتْ فَقَالَ إِنِّي إِنَّمَا أَقْضِي بَيْنَكُمْ بِرَأْيِي فِيمَا لَمْ يُنْزَلْ عَلَىَّ فِيهِ  

Umar said while he was (sitting) on the pulpit: O people, the opinion from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was right, because Allah showed (i.e. inspired) him; but from us it is sheer conjecture and artifice.  

وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ الرَّأْىَ إِنَّمَا كَانَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُصِيبًا لأَنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ يُرِيهِ وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ مِنَّا الظَّنُّ وَالتَّكَلُّفُ  

Abu 'Uthman al-Shami, whose name is Hariz bin 'Uthman, told me. I think I did not see anyone from Syria better than him.  

أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو عُثْمَانَ الشَّامِيُّ وَلاَ إِخَالُنِي رَأَيْتُ شَامِيًّا أَفْضَلَ مِنْهُ يَعْنِي حَرِيزَ بْنَ عُثْمَانَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave the decision that the two adversaries should be made to sit in front of the judge.  

قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّ الْخَصْمَيْنِ يَقْعُدَانِ بَيْنَ يَدَىِ الْحَكَمِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: A judge should not decide between the two while he is in anger.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ يَقْضِي الْحَكَمُ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ وَهُوَ غَضْبَانُ  

The Qur'anic verse: "If they do come to thee, either judge between them, or decline to interfere" was abrogated by the verse: "So judge between them by what Allah hath revealed."  

{ فَإِنْ جَاءُوكَ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ } فَنُسِخَتْ قَالَ { فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ }  

When this verse was revealed: "If they do come to thee, either judge between them, or decline to interfere....If thou judge, judge in equity between them." Banu an-Nadir used to pay half blood-money if they killed any-one from Banu Qurayzah. When Banu Qurayzah killed anyone from Banu an-Nadir, they would pay full blood-money. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made it equal between them.  

لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ { فَإِنْ جَاءُوكَ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ } { وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْقِسْطِ } الآيَةَ قَالَ كَانَ بَنُو النَّضِيرِ إِذَا قَتَلُوا مِنْ بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ أَدَّوْا نِصْفَ الدِّيَةِ وَإِذَا قَتَلَ بَنُو قُرَيْظَةَ مِنْ بَنِي النَّضِيرِ أَدَّوْا إِلَيْهِمُ الدِّيَةَ كَامِلَةً فَسَوَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَيْنَهُمْ  

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ intended to send Mu'adh ibn Jabal to the Yemen, he asked: How will you judge when the occasion of deciding a case arises? He replied: I shall judge in accordance with Allah's Book. He asked: (What will you do) if you do not find any guidance in Allah's Book? He replied: (I shall act) in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He asked: (What will you do) if you do not find any guidance in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and in Allah's Book? He replied: I shall do my best to form an opinion and I shall spare no effort. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then patted him on the breast and said: Praise be to Allah Who has helped the messenger of the Messenger of Allah to find something which pleases the Messenger of Allah.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ مُعَاذًا إِلَى الْيَمَنِ قَالَ كَيْفَ تَقْضِي إِذَا عَرَضَ لَكَ قَضَاءٌ قَالَ أَقْضِي بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَبِسُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلاَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ قَالَ أَجْتَهِدُ رَأْيِي وَلاَ آلُو فَضَرَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَدْرَهُ وَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَفَّقَ رَسُولَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ لِمَا يُرْضِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ  

Mu'adh bin Jabal said that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent him to the Yemen... He then narrated the rest of the tradition to the same effect.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَمَّا بَعَثَهُ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَذَكَرَ مَعْنَاهُ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: Conciliation between Muslims is permissible. The narrator Ahmad added in his version: "except the conciliation which makes lawful unlawful and unlawful lawful." Sulayman ibn Dawud added: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Muslims are on (i.e. stick to) their conditions.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الصُّلْحُ جَائِزٌ بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ زَادَ أَحْمَدُ إِلاَّ صُلْحًا أَحَلَّ حَرَامًا أَوْ حَرَّمَ حَلاَلاً وَزَادَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمُسْلِمُونَ عَلَى شُرُوطِهِمْ  

"Ka'b!" He said: "At your service, Messenger of Allah." Thereupon he made a gesture with is hand indicating: Remit half the debt due to you. Ka'b said: "I shall do so, Messenger of Allah." The Prophet ﷺ then said: "Get up and discharge"  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ تَقَاضَى ابْنَ أَبِي حَدْرَدٍ دَيْنًا كَانَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَارْتَفَعَتْ أَصْوَاتُهُمَا حَتَّى سَمِعَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ فِي بَيْتِهِ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى كَشَفَ سِجْفَ حُجْرَتِهِ وَنَادَى كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ فَقَالَ يَا كَعْبُ فَقَالَ لَبَّيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَأَشَارَ لَهُ بِيَدِهِ أَنْ ضَعِ الشَّطْرَ مِنْ دَيْنِكَ قَالَ كَعْبٌ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ قُمْ فَاقْضِهِ  

"Shall I not tell you of the best witnesses ? He is the one who produces his deposition or gives his evidence (the narrator is doubtful) before he is asked for it." 'Abd Allah bin Abi Bakr dobted which of them he said. Abu Dawud said: Malis said: This refers to a man gives his evidence, but he does not know for whom it is meant. Al-Hamdani said: "He should inform the authorities. Ibn al-Sarh said: "He should give it to the ruler. The work ikhbar (inform) occurs in the version of al-Hamdani." Ibn al-Sarh said: "Ibn Abi 'Amrah and not 'Abd al-Rahman."  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ الشُّهَدَاءِ الَّذِي يَأْتِي بِشَهَادَتِهِ أَوْ يُخْبِرُ بِشَهَادَتِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْأَلَهَا شَكَّ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ أَيَّتَهُمَا قَالَ  

We were sitting waiting for Abdullah ibn Umar who came out to us and sat. He then said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: If anyone's intercession intervenes as an obstacle to one of the punishments prescribed by Allah, he has opposed Allah; if anyone disputes knowingly about something which is false, he remains in the displeasure of Allah till he desists, and if anyone makes an untruthful accusation against a Muslim, he will be made by Allah to dwell in the corrupt fluid flowing from the inhabitants of Hell till he retracts his statement.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنْ حَالَتْ شَفَاعَتُهُ دُونَ حَدٍّ مِنْ حُدُودِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَادَّ اللَّهَ وَمَنْ خَاصَمَ فِي بَاطِلٍ وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُهُ لَمْ يَزَلْ فِي سَخَطِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَنْزِعَ عَنْهُ وَمَنْ قَالَ فِي مُؤْمِنٍ مَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ أَسْكَنَهُ اللَّهُ رَدْغَةَ الْخَبَالِ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ مِمَّا قَالَ  

"He who assits in a dispute unjustly deserves the anger of Allah, Most High.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمَعْنَاهُ قَالَ وَمَنْ أَعَانَ عَلَى خُصُومَةٍ بِظُلْمٍ فَقَدْ بَاءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ ﷻ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ offered the morning prayer. When he finished it, he stood up and said three times: False witness has been made equivalent to attributing a partner to Allah. He then recited: "So avoid the abomination of idols and avoid speaking falsehood as people pure of faith to Allah, not associating anything with Him.  

صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةَ الصُّبْحِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَامَ قَائِمًا فَقَالَ عُدِلَتْ شَهَادَةُ الزُّورِ بِالإِشْرَاكِ بِاللَّهِ ثَلاَثَ مِرَارٍ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ { فَاجْتَنِبُوا الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الأَوْثَانِ وَاجْتَنِبُوا قَوْلَ الزُّورِ * حُنَفَاءَ لِلَّهِ غَيْرَ مُشْرِكِينَ بِهِ }  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ rejected the testimony of a deceitful man and woman, of one who harbours rancour against his brother, and he rejected the testimony of one who is dependent on a family, and he allowed his testimony for other. Abu Dawud said: Ghimr means malice and enimity ; qani (dependant), a subordinate servant like a special servant.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَدَّ شَهَادَةَ الْخَائِنِ وَالْخَائِنَةِ وَذِي الْغِمْرِ عَلَى أَخِيهِ وَرَدَّ شَهَادَةَ الْقَانِعِ لأَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ وَأَجَازَهَا لِغَيْرِهِمْ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The testimony of a deceitful man or woman, of an adulterer and adulteress, and of one who harbours rancour against his brother is not allowable.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ خَائِنٍ وَلاَ خَائِنَةٍ وَلاَ زَانٍ وَلاَ زَانِيَةٍ وَلاَ ذِي غِمْرٍ عَلَى أَخِيهِ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: The testimony of a nomad Arab against a townsman is not allowable.  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لاَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ بَدَوِيٍّ عَلَى صَاحِبِ قَرْيَةٍ  

"I married Umm Yahya daughter of Abu Ihab. A black woman entered upon us. She said that she had suckled both of us. So I came to the Prophet ﷺ, and amentioned it to him. He turned away from me. I said (to him): Messenger of Allah! she is a liar. He said: What do you know? She has said what she has said. Separate yourself from her (wife).  

تَزَوَّجْتُ أُمَّ يَحْيَى بِنْتَ أَبِي إِهَابٍ فَدَخَلَتْ عَلَيْنَا امْرَأَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فَزَعَمَتْ أَنَّهَا أَرْضَعَتْنَا جَمِيعًا فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنِّي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهَا لَكَاذِبَةٌ قَالَ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ وَقَدْ قَالَتْ مَا قَالَتْ دَعْهَا عَنْكَ  

Hammad bin Zaid looked at al-Harith bin 'Umair and said: He is from reliable narrators from Ayyub.  

هَذَا مِنْ ثِقَاتِ أَصْحَابِ أَيُّوبَ  

A Muslim was about to die at Daquqa', but he did not find any Muslim to call him for witness to his will. So he called two men of the people of the Book for witness. Then they came to Kufah, and approaching AbuMusa al-Ash'ari they informed him (about his) will. They brought his inheritance and will. Al-Ash'ari said: This is an incident (like) which happened in the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and never occurred after him. So he made them to swear by Allah after the afternoon prayer to the effect that they had not misappropriated, nor told a lie, nor changed, nor concealed, nor altered, and that it was the will of the man and his inheritance. He then executed their witness.  

أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ بِدَقُوقَاءَ هَذِهِ وَلَمْ يَجِدْ أَحَدًا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يُشْهِدُهُ عَلَى وَصِيَّتِهِ فَأَشْهَدَ رَجُلَيْنِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ فَقَدِمَا الْكُوفَةَ فَأَتَيَا أَبَا مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيَّ فَأَخْبَرَاهُ وَقَدِمَا بِتَرِكَتِهِ وَوَصِيَّتِهِ فَقَالَ الأَشْعَرِيُّ هَذَا أَمْرٌ لَمْ يَكُنْ بَعْدَ الَّذِي كَانَ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَحْلَفَهُمَا بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ بِاللَّهِ مَا خَانَا وَلاَ كَذِبَا وَلاَ بَدَّلاَ وَلاَ كَتَمَا وَلاَ غَيَّرَا وَإِنَّهَا لَوَصِيَّةُ الرَّجُلِ وَتَرِكَتُهُ فَأَمْضَى شَهَادَتَهُمَا  

A man from Banu Sahm went out with Tamim ad-Dari and Adi ibn Badda'. The man of Banu Sahm died in the land where no Muslim was present. When they returned with his inheritance, they (the heirs) did not find a silver cup with lines of gold (in his property). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ administered on oath to them. The cup was then found (with someone) at Mecca. They said: We have bought it from Tamim and Adi. Then two men from the heirs of the man of Banu Sahm got up and swore saying: Our witness is more reliable than their witness. They said that the cup belonged to their man. He (Ibn Abbas) said: The following verse was revealed about them: "O ye who believe! when death approaches any of you....."  

خَرَجَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَهْمٍ مَعَ تَمِيمٍ الدَّارِيِّ وَعَدِيِّ بْنِ بَدَّاءَ فَمَاتَ السَّهْمِيُّ بِأَرْضٍ لَيْسَ بِهَا مُسْلِمٌ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَا بِتَرِكَتِهِ فَقَدُوا جَامَ فِضَّةٍ مُخَوَّصًا بِالذَّهَبِ فَأَحْلَفَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ وُجِدَ الْجَامُ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالُوا اشْتَرَيْنَاهُ مِنْ تَمِيمٍ وَعَدِيٍّ فَقَامَ رَجُلاَنِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءِ السَّهْمِيِّ فَحَلَفَا لَشَهَادَتُنَا أَحَقُّ مِنْ شَهَادَتِهِمَا وَإِنَّ الْجَامَ لِصَاحِبِهِمْ قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ فِيهِمْ { يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا شَهَادَةُ بَيْنِكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ } الآيَةَ  

The Prophet ﷺ bought a horse from a Bedouin. The Prophet ﷺ took him with him to pay him the price of his horse. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ walked quickly and the Bedouin walked slowly. The people stopped the Bedouin and began to bargain with him for the horse as and they did not know that the Prophet ﷺ had bought it. The Bedouin called the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: If you want this horse, (then buy it), otherwise I shall sell it. The Prophet ﷺ stopped when he heard the call of the Bedouin, and said: Have I not bought it from you? The Bedouin said: I swear by Allah, I have not sold it to you. The Prophet ﷺ said: Yes, I have bought it from you. The Bedouin began to say: Bring a witness. Khuzaymah ibn Thabit then said: I bear witness that you have bought it. The Prophet ﷺ turned to Khuzaymah and said: On what (grounds) do you bear witness? He said: By considering you trustworthy, Messenger of Allah ﷺ! The Prophet ﷺ made the witness of Khuzaymah equivalent to the witness of two people.  

وَهُوَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ ابْتَاعَ فَرَسًا مِنْ أَعْرَابِيٍّ فَاسْتَتْبَعَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لِيَقْضِيَهُ ثَمَنَ فَرَسِهِ فَأَسْرَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَشْىَ وَأَبْطَأَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ فَطَفِقَ رِجَالٌ يَعْتَرِضُونَ الأَعْرَابِيَّ فَيُسَاوِمُونَهُ بِالْفَرَسِ وَلاَ يَشْعُرُونَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ ابْتَاعَهُ فَنَادَى الأَعْرَابِيُّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مُبْتَاعًا هَذَا الْفَرَسَ وَإِلاَّ بِعْتُهُ فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ حِينَ سَمِعَ نِدَاءَ الأَعْرَابِيِّ فَقَالَ أَوَلَيْسَ قَدِ ابْتَعْتُهُ مِنْكَ فَقَالَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ لاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا بِعْتُكَهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بَلَى قَدِ ابْتَعْتُهُ مِنْكَ فَطَفِقَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ يَقُولُ هَلُمَّ شَهِيدًا فَقَالَ خُزَيْمَةُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ أَنَا أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ بَايَعْتَهُ فَأَقْبَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عَلَى خُزَيْمَةَ فَقَالَ بِمَ تَشْهَدُ فَقَالَ بِتَصْدِيقِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَجَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ شَهَادَةَ خُزَيْمَةَ بِشَهَادَةِ رَجُلَيْنِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave a decision on the basis of an oath and a single witness.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَضَى بِيَمِينٍ وَشَاهِدٍ  

'Amr said: In the rights (of the people).  

عَمْرٌو فِي الْحُقُوقِ  

The Prophet ﷺ gave a decision on the basis of an oath and a single witness. Abu Dawud said: Al-Rabi' bin Sulaiman al-Mu'adhdhin told me some additional words in this tradition: Al-Shafi'i told me from 'Abd al-'Aziz. I then mentioned it fo Suhail who said: Rabi'ah told me - and he is reliable in my opinion - that I told him this (tradition) and I do not remember it. 'Abd al-'Aziz said: Suhail suffered from some disease which caused him to lose a little of his intelligence, and he forgot some of his traditions. Thereafter Suhail would narrate traditions from Rabi'ah on the authority of his father.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَضَى بِالْيَمِينِ مَعَ الشَّاهِدِ  

I then met Suhail and asked him about this tradition. He said: I do not know it. I said to him: Rabi'ah transmitted it to me from you. He said: If Rabi'ah transmitted it to you from me, then retransmit it from Rabi'ah on my authority.  

عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بِإِسْنَادِ أَبِي مُصْعَبٍ وَمَعْنَاهُ قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ فَلَقِيتُ سُهَيْلاً فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ فَقَالَ مَا أَعْرِفُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ رَبِيعَةَ أَخْبَرَنِي بِهِ عَنْكَ قَالَ فَإِنْ كَانَ رَبِيعَةُ أَخْبَرَكَ عَنِّي فَحَدِّثْ بِهِ عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ عَنِّي  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent an army to Banu al-Anbar. They captured them at Rukbah in the suburbs of at-Ta'if and drove them to the Holy Prophet ﷺ. I rode hurriedly to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and said: Peace be on you, Messenger of Allah, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Your contingent came to us and arrested us, but we had already embraced Islam and cut the sides of the ears of our cattle. When Banu al-Anbar arrived, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said to me: Have you any evidence that you had embraced Islam before you were captured today? I said: Yes. He said: Who is your witness? I said: Samurah, a man from Banu al-Anbar, and another man whom he named. The man testified but Samurah refused to testify. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said: He (Samurah) has refused to testify for you, so take an oath with your other witness. I said: Yes. He then dictated an oath to me and I swore to the effect that we had embraced Islam on a certain day, and that we had cut the sides of the ears of the cattle. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said: Go and divide half of their property, but do not touch their children. Had Allah not disliked the wastage of action, we should not have taxed you even a rope. Zubayb said: My mother called me and said: This man has taken my mattress. I then went to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and informed him. He said to me: Detain him. So I caught him with a garment around his neck, and stood there with him . Then the Holy Prophet ﷺ looked at us standing there. He asked: What do you intend (doing) with your captive? I said: I shall let him go free if he returns to this (man) the mattress of his mother which he has taken from her. He said: Prophet of Allah ﷺ, I no longer have it. He said: The Holy Prophet ﷺ took the sword of the man and gave it to me, and said to him: Go and give him some sa's of cereal. So he gave me some sa's of barley.  

سَمِعْتُ جَدِّيَ الزُّبَيْبَ يَقُولُ بَعَثَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَيْشًا إِلَى بَنِي الْعَنْبَرِ فَأَخَذُوهُمْ بِرُكْبَةٍ مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ الطَّائِفِ فَاسْتَاقُوهُمْ إِلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَرَكِبْتُ فَسَبَقْتُهُمْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ أَتَانَا جُنْدُكَ فَأَخَذُونَا وَقَدْ كُنَّا أَسْلَمْنَا وَخَضْرَمْنَا آذَانَ النَّعَمِ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ بَلْعَنْبَرُ قَالَ لِي نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ هَلْ لَكُمْ بَيِّنَةٌ عَلَى أَنَّكُمْ أَسْلَمْتُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُؤْخَذُوا فِي هَذِهِ الأَيَّامِ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ مَنْ بَيِّنَتُكَ قُلْتُ سَمُرَةُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي الْعَنْبَرِ وَرَجُلٌ آخَرُ سَمَّاهُ لَهُ فَشَهِدَ الرَّجُلُ وَأَبَى سَمُرَةُ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ فَقَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ أَبَى أَنْ يَشْهَدَ لَكَ فَتَحْلِفُ مَعَ شَاهِدِكَ الآخَرِ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَاسْتَحْلَفَنِي فَحَلَفْتُ بِاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَسْلَمْنَا يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَخَضْرَمْنَا آذَانَ النَّعَمِ فَقَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ اذْهَبُوا فَقَاسِمُوهُمْ أَنْصَافَ الأَمْوَالِ وَلاَ تَمَسُّوا ذَرَارِيَهُمْ لَوْلاَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ ضَلاَلَةَ الْعَمَلِ مَا رَزَيْنَاكُمْ عِقَالاً قَالَ الزُّبَيْبُ فَدَعَتْنِي أُمِّي فَقَالَتْ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ أَخَذَ زِرْبِيَّتِي فَانْصَرَفْتُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ يَعْنِي فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي احْبِسْهُ فَأَخَذْتُ بِتَلْبِيبِهِ وَقُمْتُ مَعَهُ مَكَانَنَا ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَيْنَا نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَائِمَيْنِ فَقَالَ مَا تُرِيدُ بِأَسِيرِكَ فَأَرْسَلْتُهُ مِنْ يَدِي فَقَامَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ لِلرَّجُلِ رُدَّ عَلَى هَذَا زِرْبِيَّةَ أُمِّهِ الَّتِي أَخَذْتَ مِنْهَا فَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنَّهَا خَرَجَتْ مِنْ يَدِي قَالَ فَاخْتَلَعَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَيْفَ الرَّجُلِ فَأَعْطَانِيهِ وَقَالَ لِلرَّجُلِ اذْهَبْ فَزِدْهُ آصُعًا مِنْ طَعَامٍ قَالَ فَزَادَنِي آصُعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ  

Two men claimed a camel or an animal and brought the case to the Holy Prophet ﷺ. But as neither of them produced any proof, the Holy Prophet ﷺ declared that they should share it equally.  

أَنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ ادَّعَيَا بَعِيرًا أَوْ دَابَّةً إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لَيْسَتْ لِوَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بَيِّنَةٌ فَجَعَلَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بَيْنَهُمَا  

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Sa'id through a different chain of narrators to the same effect.  

عَنْ سَعِيدٍ بِإِسْنَادِهِ وَمَعْنَاهُ  

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Qatadah through a different chain of narrators to the effect that two men laid claim camel and both of them produced witness so the prophet (peace be upon him) divided it in halves between them.  

أَنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ ادَّعَيَا بَعِيرًا عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَبَعَثَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا شَاهِدَيْنِ فَقَسَمَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بَيْنَهُمَا نِصْفَيْنِ  

Two men disputed about some property and brought the case to the Holy Prophet ﷺ, but neither of them could produce any proof. So the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: Cast lots about the oath whatever it may be, whether they like it or dislike it.  

أَنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ اخْتَصَمَا فِي مَتَاعٍ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لَيْسَ لِوَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بَيِّنَةٌ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ اسْتَهِمَا عَلَى الْيَمِينِ مَا كَانَ أَحَبَّا ذَلِكَ أَوْ كَرِهَا  

When two men dislike the oath or like it,lots will be cost about it. Salamah said on the authority of Ma’mar who said: when the two are compelled to take an oath.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا كَرِهَ الاِثْنَانِ الْيَمِينَ أَوِ اسْتَحَبَّاهَا فَلْيَسْتَهِمَا عَلَيْهَا قَالَ سَلَمَةُ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ وَقَالَ إِذَا أُكْرِهَ الاِثْنَانِ عَلَى الْيَمِينِ  

About an animal and they had no proof. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered to cast lots about the oath.  

فِي دَابَّةٍ وَلَيْسَ لَهُمَا بَيِّنَةٌ فَأَمَرَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمَا عَلَى الْيَمِينِ  

Ibn ‘Abbas wrote to me that the Messenger of Allah ﷺhad defendant should take an oath.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَضَى بِالْيَمِينِ عَلَى الْمُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِ  

The Holy Prophet ﷺ said to a man whom he asked to take an oath: Swear by Allah except whom there is no god that you have nothing belonging to him, i.e. the plaintiff.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ يَعْنِي لِرَجُلٍ حَلَّفَهُ احْلِفْ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ مَا لَهُ عِنْدَكَ شَىْءٌ يَعْنِي لِلْمُدَّعِي