The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Act equally between your children; Act equally between your sons.
Hadith Text & Reference
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Act equally between your children; Act equally between your sons."
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 3544 | Book: Wages (Kitab Al-Ijarah)
Context & Meaning
This hadith emphasizes the Islamic principle of justice and fairness in parental treatment of children. The repetition "between your children; between your sons" indicates particular emphasis on equitable treatment among male offspring regarding financial matters and gifts.
Scholars explain that preferential treatment creates animosity between siblings and constitutes injustice (zulm), which is prohibited in Islam. The command applies particularly to financial gifts and inheritance distribution during one's lifetime.
Juridical Ruling
The majority of scholars hold that equality is obligatory in financial gifts to children. Imam Ahmad and others considered it strongly recommended (mandub). Differences in maintenance based on need are permitted, but discretionary gifts must be equal.
Exception is made for situations where one child has special needs or circumstances requiring additional support, as justice may sometimes require unequal treatment to achieve equitable outcomes.
Practical Application
Parents should maintain records of gifts to ensure equality. If one child received more previously, subsequent gifts should balance this disparity.
The prohibition includes both tangible gifts and intangible favors. Equal treatment in affection, time, and attention is also encouraged, though the primary focus in classical commentaries is on material matters.