Does fairness in gifts mean equal amounts for sons and daughters?
2026-10-13
F186 · Selected fatwas
Shaykh Ibn Bāz
الشيخ عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن باز
Original Q&A · Full displayed answer
The whole answer reports two scholarly views on the ratio of gifts to sons and daughters, then gives Ibn Baz’s preference for the inheritance ratio. That preference is attributed to him; agreement on that ratio is not claimed.
النص العربي
السؤال الأصلي
ورد في الحديث: اتقوا الله واعدلوا بين أولادكم فهل المقصود المساواة المطلقة؟ أم للذكر مثل حظ الأنثيين أسوة بالميراث؟ فالحديث على ما أظن يقول: أكلهم أعطيتهم مثله فكلمة مثل إن صحت توحي بالمساواة المطلقة، اللهم إلا إن كان يتكلم عن الذكور فقط، أفيدونا أفادكم الله؟
الجواب
الحديث صحيح رواه الشيخان عن النعمان بن بشير رضي الله عنه أن أباه أعطاه غلاما، فقالت أمه: لا أرضى حتى يشهد رسول الله ﷺ، فذهب بشير بن سعد إلى النبي ﷺ وأخبره بما فعل، فقال: أكل ولدك أعطيته مثل ما أعطيت النعمان؟ فقال: لا. فقال الرسول: اتقوا الله واعدلوا بين أولادكم فدل ذلك على أنه لا يجوز تفضيل بعض الأولاد على بعض في العطايا، أو تخصيص بعضهم بها، فكلهم ولده، وكلهم يرجى بره، فلا يجوز أن يخص بعضهم بالعطية دون بعض.
واختلف العلماء رحمة الله عليهم هل يسوى بينهم ويكون الذكر كالأنثى، أم يفضل الذكر على الأنثى كالميراث؟ على قولين لأهل العلم، والأرجح أن العطية كالميراث وأن التسوية تكون بجعل الذكر كالأنثيين، فإن هذا هو الذي جعله الله لهم في الميراث وهو سبحانه الحكم العدل، فيكون المؤمن في عطيته لأولاده كذلك، كما لو خلفه لهم بعد موته للذكر مثل حظ الأنثيين، هذا هو العدل بالنسبة إليهم، وبالنسبة إلى أمهم وأبيهم، وهذا هو الواجب على الأب والأم أن يعطوا الأولاد للذكر مثل حظ الأنثيين؛ وبذلك يحصل العدل والتسوية، كما جعل الله ذلك في الميراث وهو عدل من أبيهم وأمهم.
English translation
English rendering prepared for SalafAlSalih.com from the cited Arabic answer. Not an official translation.
Original question
The hadith says, ‘Fear Allah and be just between your children.’ Does this mean complete equality, or should a male receive the share of two females, as in inheritance? As I understand it, the hadith says, ‘Have you given all of them the same?’ If the word ‘same’ is established, it suggests complete equality, unless the discussion concerned sons alone. Please advise us; may Allah benefit you.
Answer
The hadith is authentic. Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from al-Numan ibn Bashir, may Allah be pleased with him, that his father gave him a slave boy. His mother said, ‘I will not be satisfied until the Messenger of Allah ﷺ witnesses it.’ Bashir ibn Sad went to the Prophet ﷺ and told him what he had done. He asked, ‘Have you given each of your children the same as you gave al-Numan?’ He replied, ‘No.’ The Messenger said, ‘Fear Allah and be just between your children.’ This shows that it is not permissible to favour some children over others in gifts, or to single some out for them. All are his children, and he hopes for dutifulness from all of them, so he may not give to some while excluding others.
The scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, differed: should they receive equal gifts, with the male receiving the same as the female, or should the male receive more, as in inheritance? Scholars hold two views. The stronger view is that gifts follow the pattern of inheritance, and fairness is achieved by giving the male the share of two females. This is the allocation Allah made for them in inheritance, and He, exalted is He, is the just Judge. A believer’s gifts to his children should follow that pattern, just as if he left the property to them after his death: a male receives the share of two females. This is justice for them and for their mother and father. This is the duty of the father and mother: to give their children with the male receiving the share of two females. Fairness and equal treatment are achieved in that way, as Allah established in inheritance, and it is justice from their father and mother.
Source and editorial notes
Official Ibn Bāz website, fatwa 20051; website cites Majmūʿ Fatāwā wa-Maqālāt 25/258
الموقع الرسمي للشيخ ابن باز
Official website of Shaykh Ibn Baz
Arabic checked against the complete displayed answer on the official Ibn Baz page. Printed locator is the website’s own reference.