Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "There were two women with whom there were their two sons. A wolf came and took away the son of one of them. That lady said to her companion, 'The wolf has taken your son.' The other said, 'But it has taken your son.' So both of them sought the judgment of (the Prophet) David who judged that the boy should be given to the older lady. Then both of them went to (the Prophet) Solomon, son of David and informed him of the case. Solomon said, 'Give me a knife so that I may cut the child into two portions and give one half to each of you.' The younger lady said, 'Do not do so; may Allah bless you ! He is her child.' On that, he gave the child to the younger lady." Abu Huraira added: By Allah! I had never heard the word 'Sakkin' as meaning knife, except on that day, for we used to call it "Mudya".
Laws of Inheritance (Al-Faraa'id) - Sahih al-Bukhari 6769
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari, while not directly addressing inheritance laws, demonstrates profound wisdom in judgment and establishes principles relevant to legal reasoning. The story illustrates how Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) employed psychological insight to discern truth, a methodology essential in Islamic jurisprudence.
Analysis of the Judgment
The wisdom of Prophet Solomon lies in his understanding of human nature. The true mother's immediate reaction—willing to surrender her claim rather than see her child harmed—revealed her genuine maternal love. This principle of testing intentions through hypothetical scenarios remains relevant in Islamic legal thought.
From a scholarly perspective, this hadith teaches that judges must look beyond surface claims to uncover underlying truths. The method of provoking genuine emotional responses to reveal truth is recognized as valid in Islamic legal tradition when dealing with conflicting claims where evidence is insufficient.
Linguistic Note
Abu Huraira's remark about the word "Sakkin" (knife) demonstrates how companions of the Prophet learned Arabic vocabulary through hadith transmission. This incidental linguistic lesson underscores the preservation of precise meaning in prophetic traditions.
Relevance to Inheritance Law
While this case involves child custody, the underlying principle applies to inheritance disputes: the importance of discerning true claimants through careful observation of behavior and priorities. Islamic judges must similarly probe beneath surface claims in inheritance cases to ensure rightful distribution according to divine law.