33rd Hadith - Burden of Proof is on the Claimant [Al-Baihaqee (Sunan: 10/252)]

الحديث الثالث والثلاثون 

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا، أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى الله عليه وسلم : لَوْ يُعْطَى النَّاسُ بِدَعْوَاهُمْ، لاَدَّعَى رِجَالٌ أَمْوَالَ قَوْمٍ وَدِمَاءَهُمْ، لَكِنَّ الْبَيِّنَةَ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِيْ وَالْيَمِيْنَ عَلَى مَنْ أَنْكَرَ 

[حديث حسن رواه البيهقي وغيره هكذا، وبعضه في الصحيحين]

33rd Hadith - Translation 

On the authority of Ibn Abbas (R.A.) that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said:

“Were people to be given everything that they claimed, men would [unjustly] claim the wealth and lives of [other] people. But, the onus of proof is upon the claimant, and the taking of an oath is upon him who denies (the allegation).”

[A hasan hadeeth narrated by Al-Baihaqee (Sunan: 10/252) and others in this form, and part of it is in the two Saheehs.]

Brief Narration

There are in every judicial dispute at least two litigating parties, the plaintiff and the defendant. The first claims what is contrary to the apparent fact; the second holds to the apparent fact and denies the claim.

Islam is a practical religion where it takes into account the possible natural conflicts, quarrels, and disputes among community individuals where people may claim something against one another. Islam establishes rules and principles by which these disputes are brought to an end in a just manner.   A person is free of guilt or claims made against him or her until proven otherwise.

(Reference: Commentary of Forty Hadiths of An-Nawawi by Dr. Jamal Ahmed Badi)