The Command of Justice Among Children
On the authority of Al-Nu'man bin Bashir, may Allah be pleased with him, he said: My father took me to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and said: I have given this son of mine a slave as a gift.
*As I am explaining to you this hadith,* the Prophet, peace be upon him, asked him: Have you given all of your sons a gift like this? My father said: No. So the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: Then take it back.
*Now listen, as I am telling you its meaning,* this is narrated from Hazrat Nu'man bin Bashir, may Allah be pleased with him. His father brought him to the court of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and said that I have gifted a slave to this son of mine. The Prophet asked, have you given such a gift to all your sons? He replied no. The Prophet said, then take it back.
*The Benefit of this hadith, as I am explaining to you, is this* - The scholars say that this hadith is regarding extra favor, kindness and justice. That is, the order in this hadith is not of compulsion (wajib). In another narration of Bukhari Sharif, the words are: Fear Allah and be just among your children. In Sahih Muslim, the hadith is mentioned in different ways in the chapter of children. And Imam Muslim has established a chapter with the heading: The dislike of giving preference to some children over others in gifts.
*As I am making you understand,* it is known from this that when a father said that he gave everything to one son and nothing to the others, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: Did you not fear that they would not be equally dutiful to you? He said: Bear witness that I have given a gift to this son of mine. The Prophet said: I will not bear witness to injustice. This hadith is a proof that it is appropriate for parents to adopt equality and fairness among children.
*And as I am telling you the final ruling,* near to the Imam, it is even obligatory to adopt this method of equality. And to give more to one child due to more love or because one child serves the parents more, and to give less to others and turn away from some children - if the purpose is to cause harm, then doing so is haram.
*So, as I am summarizing all this for you in this bayan,* the summary of all these sayings is this - The scholars say that it is Mustahabb (recommended) for him and its opposite is Makrooh (disliked). And this is the saying of Abu Hanifa, Malik and Shafi'i. That is, according to the majority of scholars, keeping equality among children is Mustahabb and giving more to one and less to another is Makrooh and disliked.
*The final conclusion, as I am explaining to you,* is that parents should adopt justice and equality, so that all children remain happy and mutual love remains among brothers. But if due to some reason parents gave more to one and less to another for a valid reason, then the children have no right to demand from the parents or to quarrel with them.
