It is narrated by Ibne Abbas that:
“The case of Bughr Naji was brought to Umar bin Khattab. He went up and
down; became anxious and nervous. In other words, no matter how much he
tried, he could not solve it. Till he summoned the companions and mentioned the
problem to them and asked them to solve it.
They said: ‘O chief of believers, you are the refuge and point of reference.’
Umar was infuriated and he said: ‘Have fear of God and say that, which may
be beneficial to you.’
They said: ‘Chief of believers, we don’t have the reply to your question.’
Umar said: ‘But, I know someone, who is the source of wisdom and who can
solve all difficulties. And he knows the perfect solution to this problem.’
They said: ‘Perhaps you imply the son of Abu Talib?’
He replied: ‘Yes, by God, has any free woman ever given birth to a son like
him and has brought such a perfect man in this world? Come let us go and
consult him.’
They asked: ‘Do you want to approach him? Let it be, he would come to
you.’
Umar said: ‘Never! Don’t you know that in that house is a branch and
section of Bani Hashim and a branch and section of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)
and a sign of knowledge and it is necessary to go towards him. He does not go to
anyone, and wisdom is taken from his house, so let us hasten to his place.’
In the company of Umar, they went to His Eminence and saw him seated
against a wall, reciting the verse:
ايَحْسَبُ الْإِنْسَانُ أَنْ يُتْرَكَ سُدًى
“Does man think that he is to be left to wander without an aim?”1
He was repeating it and weeping.
Umar said to Shuraih: ‘Mention the issue to Abul Hasan.’
Shuraih said: I was a judge, when this person came to me and entrusted to
me a woman, who was married at a heavy dower and another female, who was a
slave mother, and said: “Provide ration to them till I return.” On the first night,
both women delivered a child each. One gave birth to a male and another to a
female; and both claimed a higher inheritance. Each claiming that the male child
was hers and each of them disowned the female child.
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) asked: How did you judge between them?
Shuraih said: If I had been able to judge between them, we would not have
approached you.
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) picked up a straw and showed it to Shuraih,
saying: The solution to this enigma is simpler than this straw. Then he asked for a
vessel, and told one of the women: Put a little of your breast milk in this, which
he weighed and then asked the second woman to put her milk, which was also
weighed and found that the milk of one of them was twice heavier than the milk
of the other. His Eminence (a.s.), told the second woman: Pick up your daughter
and said to the first one: You may also take your son.
Then he asked Shuraih: Do you not know that the weight of the milk of a
female child is half in weight to that of the male? And the inheritance of female is
also half that of a male? And that her intellect is half that of male? And her
testimony is also half that of male? And her blood money is also half that of a
male? And in all matters she is half that of male?
Umar was absolutely bewildered; he said: O Abul Hasan, may Allah not put
me in a problem, where you not present to solve it and may He not put me in a
town, where you are not present.”2