(15) باب السَّعَةِ لِلْحَاكِمِ فِي أَنْ يَقُولَ لِلشَّىْءِ الَّذِي لاَ يَفْعَلُهُ افْعَلْ لِيَسْتَبِينَ الْحَقَّ .
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "Two women went out with two children of theirs, and the wolf attacked one of them and took her child. The next day they referred their dispute over the remaining child to Dawud, peace be upon him, and he ruled that (the child) belonged to the older woman. Then they passed by Sulaiman and he said: 'What is your story?' So they told him. He said: 'Bring me a knife and I will cut him in half (to be shared) between you.' The younger one said: 'Will you cut him in half?' He said: 'Yes.' She said: 'Do not do that; I will give my share of him to her.' He said: 'He is your child' and he ruled that he belonged to her."
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 5403
In-book reference: Book 49, Hadith 25
English translation: Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5405