Hadith 33

The Burden of Proof

البينة على المدعي

لَوْ يُعْطَى النَّاسُ بِدَعْوَاهُمْ لادَّعَى رِجَالٌ أَمْوَالَ قَوْمٍ وَدِمَاءَهُمْ، لَكِنَّ الْبَيِّنَةَ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِي، وَالْيَمِينَ عَلَى مَنْ أَنْكَرَ

Translation

If people were given what they claimed, men would claim the wealth and blood of others. But the burden of proof is on the claimant, and the oath is on the one who denies.

Narrated by

Abdullah ibn Abbas

عبد الله بن عباس رضي الله عنهما

Source

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim

صحيح البخاري وصحيح مسلم

Explanation

This hadith establishes fundamental principles of justice in Islamic courts: the claimant must prove their case, and the defendant swears to their innocence.

Key Lessons

  • 1Claims require evidence
  • 2Denial requires oath
  • 3Justice has clear procedures
  • 4Presumption of innocence exists