The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "You refer your disputes to me, but I am only human, and some of you may be more eloquent in arguing their case than others. If I pass judgment in favor of one of you, against his brother's rights, let him not take it, for it is a piece of fire that I am giving him."
Hadith Text
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "You refer your disputes to me, but I am only human, and some of you may be more eloquent in arguing their case than others. If I pass judgment in favor of one of you, against his brother's rights, let him not take it, for it is a piece of fire that I am giving him."
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 5401 | Book: The Book of the Etiquette of Judges | Author: Sunan an-Nasa'i
Commentary on the Prophet's Humility
This profound hadith demonstrates the Prophet's ﷺ exceptional humility and awareness of human limitations in judicial matters. Despite being the infallible Messenger of Allah, he acknowledges that as a human judge, he might be influenced by the eloquence and presentation of litigants.
The Prophet ﷺ emphasizes that his judgment is based on apparent evidence presented before him, not necessarily the absolute truth known only to Allah. This establishes the principle that a judge's ruling is binding in this world but subject to Allah's ultimate justice in the Hereafter.
The Grave Warning Against Unjust Gain
The metaphor "piece of fire" serves as a powerful deterrent against claiming rights that don't legitimately belong to one. Scholars explain that accepting what rightfully belongs to another, even through a court judgment, constitutes consuming haram wealth that will become fire in the Hereafter.
This teaching establishes the individual's responsibility before Allah to ensure they only take what is rightfully theirs, regardless of legal technicalities. The conscience must prevail over legal victory when one knows the truth differs from the judgment.
Judicial Principles Derived
This hadith establishes several fundamental principles: judges must acknowledge their human limitations, litigants should present their cases truthfully without relying solely on eloquence, and the ultimate accountability is before Allah, not merely earthly courts.
Classical scholars like Imam Nawawi emphasized that this hadith doesn't diminish the authority of judicial rulings but reinforces the spiritual responsibility of all parties involved in litigation to seek truth and justice above mere legal victory.