What is Sunan Ibn Majah 2051 about?

This hadith from Sunan Ibn Majah (Book of The Chapters on Rulings), narrated by It was narrated from Umm Salamah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:, states: "“You refer your disputes to me and I am only human. Perhaps some of you may be more eloquent in presenting your case than others, so I rule in your favor because of what I hear from you. If I pass a j…"

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Hasan. Hasan hadiths are considered good and acceptable in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Ibn Majah, which contains 4,345 hadiths across 38 books. It is hadith number 2051 in the Book of The Chapters on Rulings.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

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#2050

#2051

Sunan Ibn Majah

#2052

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Sunan Ibn Majah #2051

The Chapters on Rulings

Hasan

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ إِلَىَّ وَإِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ وَلَعَلَّ بَعْضَكُمْ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَلْحَنَ بِحُجَّتِهِ مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَإِنَّمَا أَقْضِي بَيْنَكُمْ عَلَى نَحْوٍ مِمَّا أَسْمَعُ مِنْكُمْ فَمَنْ قَضَيْتُ لَهُ مِنْ حَقِّ أَخِيهِ شَيْئًا فَلاَ يَأْخُذْهُ فَإِنَّمَا أَقْطَعُ لَهُ قِطْعَةً مِنَ النَّارِ يَأْتِي بِهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

“You refer your disputes to me and I am only human. Perhaps some of you may be more eloquent in presenting your case than others, so I rule in your favor because of what I hear from you. If I pass a judgement in favor of one of you that detracts from his brother's rights, then he should not take it, because it is a piece of fire that is given to him which he will bring forth on the Day Resurrection.”

Narrated by It was narrated from Umm Salamah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) reminds the people that he is human and can be influenced by eloquence in arguments. He warns that if he rules in favor of someone unjustly, it will be a source of punishment for them in the Hereafter. This highlights the importance of justice and the ethical responsibilities of those in positions of authority.

Modern Application

Today, this principle can be reflected in the legal system where judges are encouraged to base their decisions on evidence and fairness, rather than on persuasive arguments alone. It serves as a reminder for all individuals to uphold justice in their interactions.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Justice and Ethics of Interaction because it emphasizes the necessity of fairness in judgment and the ethical implications of ruling on disputes.

Justice Ethics of Interaction