Abdullah bin al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) said that a man of the Ansar disputed with al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) concerning the watering of date palms. The Ansari said: Let the water flow. Al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) refused. They brought the dispute to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Zubayr! After watering the date palms, let the water go to your neighbour." The Ansari became angry and said: (This is because) he is the son of your paternal aunt! At that, the colour of the face of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) changed. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Zubayr! Water (your palms) and then hold back the water until it reaches the walls." And al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I think this verse was revealed about this: "But no, by your Lord, they will not (truly) believe until they make you judge in their disputes." [Surah al-Nisa: 65]
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب آداب القاضي / 20286
Urwah bin al-Zubayr (may Allah have mercy on him) said that a man disputed with Sayyiduna al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) about the water of a channel in the Harrah. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Zubayr! Water (your land), then leave (the rest) for your neighbour." The Ansari said: (It is because) he is the son of your paternal aunt! (Hearing this,) his (peace and blessings be upon him) blessed face changed colour. Then he said: "O Zubayr! Water (your land) and hold it back until it reaches the walls, then release it to your neighbour." So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave Sayyiduna al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) his full right when the Ansari objected, although before that he (peace and blessings be upon him) had proposed a lenient arrangement.
Sayyiduna al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) said that this verse was revealed about this very matter: "But no, by your Lord, they will not (truly) believe until they make you judge in their disputes." [Surah al-Nisa: 65] He said: I heard someone other than al-Zuhri say: We considered the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), 'Hold back the water until it reaches the walls,' and it came up to the ankles.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب آداب القاضي / 20287