Claims and Proofs

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) heard clamor at his door, due to people being engaged in dispute and quarrel. He went out to judge between them, saying: I am only a human like you. I do not know the unseen, nor am I informed about hidden matters so that I would recognize the truthful from the liar among you. People come to me to judge between them. My judgment, however, is based on each party's argument, evidence and oaths that I hear. Perhaps some are more eloquent than others and can express themselves better, so I believe them to be truthful and on the right side. Thus, I judge in their favor, although the truth, in reality, is on the other party's side. So, you should know that I give my judgment according to what is apparent and not what is hidden, which does not make the unlawful lawful. Consequently, whoever receives something based upon my judgment that is the right of his brother, while he knows that he is not taking it rightfully, then I am giving him nothing but a piece of fire. So, let him carry it, if he wishes, or leave it. The punishment for this returns upon him, and Allah is lying in wait for those who do injustice to others.

الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام، إسماعيل بن محمد الأنصاري، دار الفكر، دمشق، الطبعة: الأولى 1381هـ. تأسيس الأحكام، أحمد بن يحيى النجمي، دار علماء السلف، الطبعة: الثانية 1414هـ. تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، عبد الله بن عبد الرحمن البسام، تحقيق: محمد صبحي حلاق، مكتبة الصحابة، الأمارات، مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، الطبعة: العاشرة 1426هـ. عمدة الأحكام من كلام خير الأنام -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لعبد الغني المقدسي، دراسة وتحقيق: محمود الأرناؤوط، مراجعة وتقديم: عبد القادر الأرناؤوط، دار الثقافة العربية، دمشق، بيروت، مؤسسة قرطبة، الطبعة: الثانية 1408هـ. صحيح البخاري، محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري الجعفي، تحقيق: محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، مسلم بن الحجاج القشيري النيسابوري، تحقيق محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت، الطبعة: 1423هـ.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) warned against swearing an oath by Allah while knowing that one is lying in his oath in order to unjustly acquire someone else's property. Such a person will meet Allah while He is angry with him. Al-Ash‘ath ibn Qays (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said this when there was a dispute between him and a Jewish man over the ownership of a piece of land. They both brought their case to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who then said to Al-Ash‘ath: You must provide evidence to support your claim. If you are unable to do so, then you only have the oath of your opponent, the one being accused. Al-Ash‘ath said: O Messenger of Allah, then the Jewish man will take an oath without hesitation and take my money. So Allah Almighty revealed confirmation of this in the Qur’an, saying: {Those who trade} and exchange {the covenant of Allah} and His commandment for the believers to fulfill the trust and {their oaths} taken in His name while lying {for a small price} of the worldly gains {they will have no share in the Hereafter} and no portion, and {Allah will neither speak to them} with words that would bring them joy and benefit; rather, He will be angry with them {nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection} with a look of mercy and compassion {nor will He purify them} with beautiful praise, nor will He purify them with forgiveness for their sins and impurities {and for them there will be a painful punishment} and agonizing due to what they have committed.

1. The prohibition of taking people's wealth wrongfully and deeming that lawful.
2. The strict prohibition of Muslims' rights, whether in small or large matters.
3. The proof is on the claimant, and the oath is on the defendant if he denies it.
4. Two witnesses establish the right. If the claimant does not have evidence, the defendant must take an oath.
5. The prohibition of the (Ghamūs) oath, which is the false oath taken to seize the right of another. It is one of the major sins that exposes its perpetrator to the wrath of Allah Almighty and His punishment.
6. The admonition of the ruler to the litigants, especially when an oath is about to be taken.

صحيح البخاري (3/ 121) (2416). صحيح مسلم (1/ 123) (138). الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام، لإسماعيل الأنصاري (2/ 136). تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، للبسام (ص687). فتاوى اللجنة الدائمة - اللجنة الدائمة للبحوث العلمية والإفتاء (23/ 513).

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.

نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، نشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ - 1987م. شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين، نشر: دار الوطن للنشر، الرياض، 1426هـ. بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، للهلالي، نشر: دار ابن الجوزي. صحيح البخاري، نشر: دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، نشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت.

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.

1. Ibn Daqīq al-Eid said: This Hadīth constitutes one of the fundamentals of rulings and the best reference when dispute and conflict occurs.
2. The Shariah came to protect people’s property and blood from manipulation.
3. A judge should not rule according to his knowledge, but he should refer to clear evidence.
4. If anyone claims without evidence, it shall be rejected, whether it pertains to rights and transactions or the issues of Imān and knowledge.

السنن الكبرى للبيهقي تحقيق التركي (21/ 242 - 243) (21243). التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثًا النووية (ص76). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص328). فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين وتتمة الخمسين، لعبد المحسن البدر (ص114).

In this Hadīth two people were disputing over something that they did not possess and for which they had no evidence (of possession). The item was being held by a third party. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that they should take an oath. They both hurried to take the oath, so he said that a lot should be cast to decide who would take the oath first. The point of the Hadīth is that if two men claim possession of an item that a third party holds, and, if they have or do not have any proof and the third party does not know to which of them the item belongs, they should cast lots. The winner should then take an oath and will get the item.

صحيح البخاري -الجامع الصحيح-؛ للإمام أبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، عناية محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. منار القاري شرح مختصر صحيح البخاري - تأليف حمزة محمد قاسم مكتبة دار البيان، دمشق - الجمهورية العربية السورية، مكتبة المؤيد، الطائف - المملكة العربية السعودية، 1410 هـ - 1990 م مرقاة المفاتيح، علي بن سلطان محمد، أبو الحسن نور الدين الملا الهروي القاري - دار الفكر، بيروت - لبنان الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هـ - 2002م منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام: تأليف عبد الله الفوزان-طبعة دار ابن الجوزي-الطبعة الأولى 1428 توضيح الأحكام شرح بلوغ المرام: تأليف عبد الله البسام- مكتبة الأسدي –مكة المكرمة –الطبعة: الخامِسَة، 1423 هـ - 2003 م تسهيل الإلمام بفقه الأحاديث من بلوغ المرام: تأليف الشيخ صالح الفوزان- عناية عبد السلام السليمان - مؤسسة الرسالة الطبعة الأولى فتح ذي الجلال والإكرام بشرح بلوغ المرام للشيخ ابن عثيمين- المكتبة الإسلامية القاهرة- تحقيق صبحي رمضان وأم إسراء بيومي- الطبعة الأولى 1427 بلوغ المرام من أدلة الأحكام، لابن حجر، دار القبس للنشر والتوزيع، الرياض - المملكة العربية السعودية. الطبعة: الأولى، 1435 هـ - 2014 م.

In this Hadīth, Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified how grave a sin it is to swear a false oath at the Prophet's pulpit in his mosque, even concerning a trivial matter. Indeed, in this place, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is to be glorified, and what he said on the pulpit is to be remembered. So, going against his teachings by taking a false oath makes one deserving of this threat. A false oath entails the wrath of Allah, but in such an honorable place (as the Prophet's pulpit inside his mosque) it is an uglier sin.

- سنن أبي داود، ت: محمد محي الدين, المكتبة العصرية. - سنن ابن ماجه، المؤلف: ت: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي, دار إحياء الكتب العربية. - مسند أحمد، تحقيق شعيب الأرنؤوط، الناشر: مؤسسة الرسالة الطبعة : الأولى ، 1421 هـ - 2001 م. -موطأ الإمام مالك, مالك بن أنس بن مالك بن عامر الأصبحي المدني, صححه ورقمه وخرج أحاديثه وعلق عليه: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي, دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت – لبنان, عام النشر: 1406 هـ - 1985. - إرواء الغليل في تخريج أحاديث منار السبيل للألباني , المكتب الإسلامي الطبعة: الثانية 1405 هـ. - شرح الطيبي على مشكاة المصابيح المسمى بـ (الكاشف عن حقائق السنن) المؤلف: شرف الدين الحسين بن عبد الله الطيبي, ت: د. عبد الحميد هنداوي, مكتبة نزار مصطفى الباز, الطبعة: الأولى، 1417 هـ. - تسهيل الإلمام بفقه الأحاديث من بلوغ المرام، تأليف: صالح بن فوزان بن عبد الله الفوزان، الطبعة: الأولى، 1427 هـ 2006 م. - منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان. دار ابن الجوزي. ط1 1428هـ. - فتح ذي الجلال والاكرام بشرح بلوغ المرام، للشيخ ابن عثيمين، المكتبة الإسلامية - الطبعة الأولى 1427. - توضِيحُ الأحكَامِ مِن بُلوُغ المَرَام، للبسام. مكتَبة الأسدي، مكّة المكرّمة، الطبعة: الخامِسَة، 1423 هـ. - عون المعبود شرح سنن أبي داود، للعظيم آبادي دار الكتب العلمية - بيروت, الطبعة: الثانية، 1415 هـ. - مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح للقاري، دار الفكر، بيروت، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هـ. - البدرُ التمام شرح بلوغ المرام للمَغرِبي, ت: علي بن عبد الله الزبن, دار هجر, الطبعة: الأولى 1428 هـ.

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.

1. Ibn Daqīq al-Eid said: This Hadīth constitutes one of the fundamentals of rulings and the best reference when dispute and conflict occurs.
2. The Shariah came to protect people’s property and blood from manipulation.
3. A judge should not rule according to his knowledge, but he should refer to clear evidence.
4. If anyone claims without evidence, it shall be rejected, whether it pertains to rights and transactions or the issues of Imān and knowledge.

السنن الكبرى للبيهقي تحقيق التركي (21/ 242 - 243) (21243). التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثًا النووية (ص76). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص328). فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين وتتمة الخمسين، لعبد المحسن البدر (ص114).