While two women had been going along witn their two sons, a wolf came and made away with the child of one of them. One of them said to her companion: It is with your child that it (the wolf) has run away The other one said: It has run away with your child. They brought the matter to (Hadrat) Dawud (David) for decision and he made a decision in favour of the elder one. They then went to Sulaiman b. Dawud (may there be peace upon both of them) and told them (the story). He said: Bring me a knife so that I may cut him (the child) (into two parts) for you. The younger one said: No, it can't be, may Allah have mercy upon you, he (the child) belongs to her (the elder). So he gave a decision in favour of the younger one. abu Huraira said: If ever I heard of the word as-sikin at all, it was that day. We called it by no other name but al-Mudya.
The Book of Judicial Decisions - Sahih Muslim 1720a
This narration from Sahih Muslim presents a profound example of judicial wisdom and psychological insight in resolving disputes.
The Case and Initial Judgment
Two women claimed motherhood of a surviving child after a wolf took the other. Prophet Dawud (David) initially ruled in favor of the elder woman based on conventional evidence.
Sulaiman's Ingenious Approach
Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) employed a psychological test by proposing to divide the child. The true mother's immediate protest revealed her genuine maternal love and concern for the child's welfare, while the false claimant showed willingness to accept the division.
Divine Wisdom in Judgment
This judgment demonstrates that true justice requires insight into human nature beyond surface evidence. Sulaiman's approach uncovered the truth through the natural response of maternal instinct, proving superior to conventional adjudication methods.
Linguistic Note
Abu Huraira's remark about the word "as-sikin" (knife) indicates how this memorable judgment became associated with the instrument used in the test, showing how significant legal cases can influence language and memory.