Two women—the boy’s grandmother and his mother—came to Shurayḥ, each claiming, “I have the stronger right to him.”

The grandmother recited:
Abā Mayyah, we have come to you—
you are the man to whom we turn; (1)
There has appeared before you (2) his grandmother and my child,
and we would both ransom him with our lives.
Had you remained unmarried,
I would never have contended with you for him;
But you have taken a husband—so hand him over,
and let not pride carry you astray. (3)
O judge, this is my plea concerning him.

The mother replied:
O judge, the grandmother has already spoken to you,
but hear a word from me as well—do not drive me away; (4)
Console yourself about my son, for my very body carried his body.
When he lay in my lap, an orphan—alone, (5)
I married in hope of good, of one who would lighten the loss for me,
who would show me affection (6) and give me kind support.

Shurayḥ said:
The judge has heard what you have both said and has now decided—
heavy is the judge’s burden if he is heedless. (7)
He then said to the grandmother:
“Take the boy and keep your grandson from the ailing woman.
Had she shown patience, she would have possessed—
before this claim—the right she now seeks in exchange.” (8)
Thus he awarded custody to the grandmother.

ʿAbd al-Razzāq (9) related: Maʿmar ibn ʿAwn told us, from Ibrāhīm, that Shurayḥ once judged against a man on the basis of the man’s own confession. The man protested, “O Abū Umayyah, you have ruled against me without any evidence!” Shurayḥ replied, “The son of your maternal aunt’s sister informed me”—that is, you yourself confessed.