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Text and translation
English translation
5404. Abū Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: "There were two women who had two children, and the wolf came and took away the son of one of them. She said to her companion: 'It took away your son.' The other one said: 'No, it took away your son.' They referred the matter to Dāwūd, peace be upon him, for judgment (about the remaining child) and he ruled in favor of the older one. Then they went out to Sulaimān bin Dāwūd and told him (about that). He said: 'Give me a knife and I will cut him in half (to be shared) between you.' The younger one said: 'Do not do that, may Allāh have mercy on you; he is her son.' So he ruled that (the child) belonged to the younger woman." Abū Hurairah said: "By Allāh! I never heard 'Sikkīn' used until that day. We would only say: 'Mudyah.'" (Sahīh)
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Commentary
1. This is an astonishing incident that a dispute arises over a child; while children have identity of their own. Even if no one is found who could help identify it.
2. 'In favor of the elder one': There are no details to clarify why that was the case.
3. Since she would give him up just so he could live, while silent; it was clear that she was his mother.
4. 'Sikkīn': In the Arabic language, a knife is called Sikkīn as well as Al-Mudyah. It might perhaps have been called Al-Mudyah in the province of Abū Hurairah.
