How could I take a part of her land, after what I heard from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon'him)? He (Marwan) said: What did you hear from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)? He said: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say: He who wrongly took a span of land would be made to wear around his neck seven earths. Marwan said: I do not ask any evidence from you after this. He (Sa'id) said: O Allah, make her blind if she has told a lie and kill her in her own land. He (the narrator) said: She did not die until she had lost her eyesight, and (one day) as she was walking in her land, she fell down into a pit and died.
Narrated by Hisham b. Urwa reported on the authority of his father (Allah be pleased with him) that Arwa bint Uwais disputed with Sa'id b. Zaid that he had seized some of the land belonging to her. She brought this dispute before Marwan b. al-Hakam. Sa'id said:
Context
This hadith recounts a dispute over land ownership between Arwa bint Uwais and Sa'id b. Zaid. Sa'id invokes the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) warning against unjustly taking land, which serves as a reminder of the severe consequences of such actions. The narrative illustrates the importance of justice and the protection of property rights in Islam.
Modern Application
In today's world, this principle reinforces the need for fairness in property transactions and disputes. It encourages individuals to respect others' property rights and seek justice through appropriate channels rather than resorting to wrongful claims.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Justice and Property Rights because it addresses the serious implications of unjustly seizing land and emphasizes the importance of fairness in ownership.
Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." The angels will say, "Was not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination.
Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment,
O you who have believed, testimony [should be taken] among you when death approaches one of you at the time of bequest - [that of] two just men from among you or two others from outside if you are traveling through the land and the disaster of death should strike you. Detain them after the prayer and let them both swear by Allah if you doubt [their testimony, saying], "We will not exchange our oath for a price, even if he should be a near relative, and we will not withhold the testimony of Allah. Indeed, we would then be of the sinful."
This hadith is #4005 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Musaqah. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Hisham b. Urwa reported on the authority of his father (Allah be pleased with him) that Arwa bint Uwais disputed with Sa'id b. Zaid that he had seized some of the land belonging to her. She brought this dispute before Marwan b. al-Hakam. Sa'id said:.
