Sahih al-Bukhari
Sahih al-Bukhari 7169
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ، وَإِنَّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ إِلَىَّ، وَلَعَلَّ بَعْضَكُمْ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَلْحَنَ بِحُجَّتِهِ مِنْ بَعْضٍ فَأَقْضِي نَحْوَ مَا أَسْمَعُ، فَمَنْ قَضَيْتُ لَهُ بِحَقِّ أَخِيهِ شَيْئًا فَلاَ يَأْخُذْهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أَقْطَعُ لَهُ قِطْعَةً مِنَ النَّارِ ".
Umm Salama reported that the Messenger of God said: “I am only a human being, and you bring your disputes to me. Perhaps some of you are more persuasive in presenting their case than others, so I may rule in their favor according to what I hear. If I rule in someone’s favor regarding a right that belongs to his brother, let him not take it, for I am only cutting off for him a piece of Fire.”
Translation notes
The report says a ruling may follow what the Prophet hears from the disputants, and warns the successful party not to take a right belonging to another. The final “piece of Fire” image is retained.