A man who favors some of his children over others

Ibn Jurayj said: I asked Ata whether, according to the Book of Allah, equality is necessary in giving wealth to one's children. He said: Yes, and it has reached us from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he asked a Companion: Have you treated your children equally? I said: Is this reported about Sayyiduna al-Nu'man (may Allah be pleased with him)? He said: The hadith scholars say that the same is also reported about some other Companions.

Al-Sha'bi said: I heard Sayyiduna al-Nu'man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) say: My father gave me some wealth, and my mother Amrah bint Rawahah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I will not be content until you make the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) a witness to it. So he went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! I have given some wealth to the son of Amrah, and she says that I should make you a witness to it. He asked: Have you given this much wealth to every one of your children? He said: No. He said: "Fear Allah, and treat your children equally." He said: So he came back and took his wealth back.

Muhammad bin al-Nu'man narrates from his father that his father gifted him a slave and then came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in order to make him a witness to this. He asked: "Have you gifted a slave like this to every one of your children?" He replied: No. He said: "Take that slave back from him."

It is narrated from al-Sha'bi that Sayyiduna al-Nu'man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: My father took me to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in order to make him a witness to a gift that he had given me. He asked: "Do you have any other child besides him?" He said: "Yes." He asked: "Have you given every child wealth like this?" He said: "No." At this he said: "I cannot be a witness to injustice."

Ibn Abi Najih said that when Tawus was asked about this, he would recite this verse: "Do they seek the judgment of ignorance?"

It is narrated from al-Zuhri that Urwah said: "The injustice that is unacceptable from a dying person is also unacceptable from a living person."

Misma' bin Thabit said that Ikrimah used to dislike this.

It is reported from Abu Ma'shar that Ibrahim said: The jurists used to consider it recommended that a man should keep equality among his children, even in kissing them.

It is reported from Ash'ath that al-Hakam used to dislike that a man should give some of his children preference over others, but in judicial decisions he would also allow it.

Amir said that Shurayh stated: There is no harm in a man giving some of his children preference over others.

Abu Hayyan reported from his father that a neighbour of Shurayh, who had more than one child, was at the point of death, and he divided his wealth among them, sparing no effort to keep equality. Then he sent for Shurayh, and when he came the man said: "O Abu Umayyah! I have divided my wealth among my children, I have spared no effort to keep equality, and now I make you a witness." Shurayh said: "The division of Allah is more just than your division. Cancel this division and divide according to the shares fixed by Allah Almighty, and then make me a witness; otherwise do not make me a witness, for I do not wish to be a witness to injustice."

Muslim reported that Masruq went to a man who was making a bequest, and he made some improper bequests. Masruq said: "Indeed Allah Almighty has made an excellent division among you, and whoever, by choosing his own opinion, turns away from the decision of Allah Almighty will go astray. Make a bequest for those of your relatives who do not inherit from you, then leave the wealth to those among whom Allah Almighty has divided it."