The Prophet [SAW] said: "Two women went out with their two children, and the wolf took one of the children from them. They referred their dispute to Prophet Dawud, peace be upon him, and he ruled that (the remaining child) belonged to the older woman. Then they passed by Sulaiman, peace be upon him, and he said: 'How did he judge between you?' She said: 'He ruled that (the child) belongs to the older woman.' Sulaiman said: 'Cut him in half, and give half to one and half to the other.' The older woman said: 'Yes, cut him in half.' The younger woman said: 'Do not cut him, he is her child.' So he ruled that the child belonged to the woman who refused to let him be cut."
The Book of the Etiquette of Judges - Sunan an-Nasa'i 5404
This narration from Prophet Muhammad [SAW] recounts a profound judicial wisdom from Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon), peace be upon him, demonstrating exceptional insight in resolving disputes.
Context and Chain of Narration
This hadith is recorded in Sunan an-Nasa'i, one of the six major authentic hadith collections, through reliable chains of transmission. The incident involves two women who lost a child to a wolf and disputed over the remaining child.
Prophet Dawud's Initial Judgment
Prophet Dawud (David), peace be upon him, initially ruled in favor of the older woman based on conventional evidence and testimony. His judgment followed established legal principles but lacked the deeper insight required for this particular case.
Sulaiman's Judicial Wisdom
Prophet Sulaiman's approach demonstrates brilliant judicial strategy. By proposing to divide the child, he tested the genuine maternal love of both claimants. The true mother's immediate refusal to harm the child revealed her authentic claim, while the other's acceptance exposed her falsehood.
Legal Principles Derived
This incident establishes several key judicial principles: judges must seek creative solutions beyond surface evidence; true love and concern often reveal truth; judicial wisdom requires understanding human nature; and sometimes unconventional methods are necessary to uncover hidden truths in complex cases.
Contemporary Application
This prophetic example teaches modern judges and arbitrators to look beyond apparent evidence, understand human psychology, and employ wisdom that reveals truth through people's natural reactions and emotional responses in disputed matters.