There were two women, each had her son with her. A wolf came and took away the son of one …

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) relates to us in this Hadīth the story of two women who went out, each with her son. The wolf snatched away one of their two sons. Each of them claimed that the remaining child was hers. They brought their case to Dawūd (peace be upon him), who ruled that the child belonged to the older woman, based on his personal judgment, as the older one might be unable to have children, whereas the younger woman could have another baby in the future. As they departed, they went to Sulaymān (peace be upon him) and related the matter to him. Thereupon, he called for a knife and said: "I will rip him in two halves and give each of you one half." The older woman agreed. But the younger one refused, instead letting the baby be taken by the older one. Upon that, he decided that the baby belonged to the younger woman, based on evidence, as she mercifully preferred that he be taken by the other woman than him being ripped in two halves.