The Hadith

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Messenger of Allah said:

“If people were given everything they claimed, men would claim the wealth and blood of others.

But the burden of proof is upon the claimant, and the oath is upon the one who denies.”  

Reference

Reported by al-Bayhaqi and others, and it is a hasan hadith; a part of it is in the Two Authentic Collections (al-Bukhari and Muslim).

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Explanation (From Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan)

In this hadith the Prophet established an important principle related to disputes and claims between people.  

The Prophet explained that if people were given what they claimed without evidence, individuals might falsely claim the wealth or blood of others.  

For this reason, the Prophet established the rule:

“The burden of proof is upon the claimant.”

This means that the person making a claim must provide evidence to support it.  

If the claimant cannot provide proof, the person who denies the claim may clear himself by taking an oath.  

This principle helps protect people’s rights and prevents false accusations.  

References

The Explanation of Imam an-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith: Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan. Dar Makkah International.

Verified on 2026-10-21 against: The Explanation of Imam an-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith (Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan), Hadith 33.