Mishkat
al-Masabih
مشكاة المصابيح
The Offices of Commander and Qadi
كتاب الإمارة والقضاء
Chapter 4b: Cases and Depositions - Section 2
باب الأقضية والشهادات - الفصل الثاني
Mishkat al-Masabih 3772
Abu Musa al-Ash'ari told that two men laid claim to a camel in the time of Allah's Messenger ﷺ and both of them sent two witnesses, so the Prophet (ﷺ) divided it in halves between them.* Abu Dawud transmitted it. A version by Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and him says that two men laid claim to a camel, but as neither of them could produce proof the Prophet (ﷺ) declared they should share it equally. * I have kept closely to the Arabic in this translation because the alternative version follows immediately afterwards. The meaning of both versions is the same, viz. that both men were to have equal use of the camel.
وَعَن أبي مُوسَى الأشعريِّ: أَنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ ادَّعَيَا بَعِيرًا عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَبَعَثَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا شَاهِدَيْنَ فَقَسَّمَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَيْنَهُمَا نِصْفَيْنِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُ وَلِلنَّسَائِيِّ وَابْنِ مَاجَهْ: أَنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ ادَّعَيَا بَعِيرًا لَيْسَتْ لِوَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بَيِّنَةٌ فَجَعَلَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَيْنَهُمَا
In-book reference: Mishkat al-Masabih Book 18 Chapter 4b Hadith 1