Testimony of Children

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ كَتَمَ شَهَادَةً أَوْ شَهِدَ بِهَا لِيُهْدِرَ لَهَا بِهَا دَمَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ أَوْ لِيَزْوِيَ مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ‌[2] أَتَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ لِوَجْهِهِ ظُلْمَةٌ مَدَّ الْبَصَرِ وَ فِي وَجْهِهِ كُدُوحٌ‌[3] تَعْرِفُهُ الْخَلَائِقُ بِاسْمِهِ وَ نَسَبِهِ وَ مَنْ شَهِدَ شَهَادَةَ حَقٍّ لِيُحْيِيَ بِهَا حَقَّ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ أَتَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ لِوَجْهِهِ نُورٌ مَدَّ الْبَ

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Najran and Muhammad ibn Ali from abu Jamilah from Jabir who has narrated the following: “Abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of thei

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ وَ مَنْ يَكْتُمْها فَإِنَّهُ آثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ‌[2] قَالَ بَعْدَ الشَّهَادَةِ.

“About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . one who hides a testimony his heart is sinful,’ (2: 283) abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘It is after having witnessed a case.’”

كَتَبَ أَبِي فِي رِسَالَتِهِ إِلَيَّ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الشَّهَادَةِ لَهُمْ فَأَقِمِ الشَّهَادَةَ لِلَّهِ وَ لَوْ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ‌ أَوِ الْوالِدَيْنِ وَ الْأَقْرَبِينَ‌ فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَإِنْ خِفْتَ عَلَى أَخِيكَ ضَيْماً فَلَا[3]. - الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ‌ مِثْلَهُ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ’Isma‘il ibn Mehran from Muhammad ibn Mansur al-Khuza‘iy from Ali ibn Suwayd al-Sa’iy who has narrated the following: “My father wrote to me in his letter and I asked abu al-Hassan, Alayhi al-Salam, about testimony for them. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must

إِذَا سَمِعَ الرَّجُلُ الشَّهَادَةَ وَ لَمْ يُشْهَدْ عَلَيْهَا فَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ شَهِدَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ سَكَتَ وَ قَالَ إِذَا أُشْهِدَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْهَدَ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’If a man hears a testimony but has not witnessed it, he has the choice to present it or not, but if he has witnessed it, has no choice but to present his testimony.’”

إِذَا سَمِعَ الرَّجُلُ الشَّهَادَةَ وَ لَمْ يُشْهَدْ عَلَيْهَا فَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ شَهِدَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ سَكَتَ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man hears a testimony but has not witnessed it, he has the choice to testify or remain silent.’”

إِذَا سَمِعَ الرَّجُلُ الشَّهَادَةَ وَ لَمْ يُشْهَدْ عَلَيْهَا فَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ‌ شَاءَ شَهِدَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ سَكَتَ إِلَّا إِذَا عَلِمَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِ‌[1] فَلْيَشْهَدْ وَ لَا يَحِلُّ لَهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْهَدَ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man hears a testimony but has not witnessed it, he has the choice to testify or remain silent, unless he knows that a rightful party suffers injustice, in which case it is not lawful to remain silent.’”

إِذَا سَمِعَ الرَّجُلُ الشَّهَادَةَ فَلَمْ يُشْهَدْ عَلَيْهَا فَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ شَهِدَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ سَكَتَ إِلَّا إِذَا عَلِمَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِ فَيَشْهَدُ وَ لَا يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ لَا يَشْهَدَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man hears a testimony but has not witnessed it, he has the choice to testify or remain silent, unless he knows that a rightful party suffers injustice, in which case it is not lawful to remain silent.’”

إِذَا سَمِعَ الرَّجُلُ الشَّهَادَةَ وَ لَمْ يُشْهَدْ عَلَيْهَا فَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ شَهِدَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ سَكَتَ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man hears a testimony but has not witnessed it, he has the choice to testify or remain silent.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَحْضُرُ حِسَابَ الرَّجُلِ فَيَطْلُبَانِ مِنْهُ الشَّهَادَةَ عَلَى مَا سَمِعَ مِنْهُمَا فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ إِلَيْهِ إِنْ شَاءَ شَهِدَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ لَمْ يَشْهَدْ فَإِنْ شَهِدَ بِحَقٍّ قَدْ سَمِعَهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَشْهَدْ فَلَا شَيْ‌ءَ عَلَيْهِ لِأَنَّهُمَا لَمْ يُشْهِدَاهُ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who is present during the accounting of the two of them who ask him to bear witness to what he has heard from them. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is up to him to bear witness or not, but if he witnesses a true case which he has heard and does not testify, there is noth

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يُشْهِدُنِي عَلَى الشَّهَادَةِ فَأَعْرِفُ خَطِّي وَ خَاتَمِي وَ لَا أَذْكُرُ شَيْئاً مِنَ الْبَاقِي قَلِيلًا وَ لَا كَثِيراً قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي إِذَا كَانَ صَاحِبُكَ ثِقَةً وَ مَعَكَ رَجُلٌ ثِقَةٌ فَاشْهَدْ لَهُ.

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who asks me to testify for a case and I recognize my handwriting and seal but do not remember anything of the rest, little or more. He (the Imam) said, ‘If the party is trustworthy and there is another trustworthy man, you can testify.’”

كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عِيسَى‌ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ جَاءَنِي جِيرَانٌ لَنَا بِكِتَابٍ زَعَمُوا أَنَّهُمْ أَشْهَدُونِي عَلَى مَا فِيهِ وَ فِي الْكِتَابِ اسْمِي بِخَطِّي قَدْ عَرَفْتُهُ وَ لَسْتُ أَذْكُرُ الشَّهَادَةَ وَ قَدْ دَعَوْنِي إِلَيْهَا فَأَشْهَدُ لَهُمْ عَلَى مَعْرِفَتِي أَنَّ اسْمِي فِي الْكِتَابِ وَ لَسْتُ أَذْكُرُ الشَّهَادَةَ أَوْ لَا تَجِبُ لَهُمُ الشَّهَادَةُ عَلَيَّ حَتَّى أَذْكُرَهَا كَانَ اسْمِي ف

“Ja‘far ibn ‘Isa wrote to him (the Imam) (a.s.), and asked this question. ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. Our neighbor has brought to me a document thinking that they had appointed me as a witness for the case; in the document in which there is my name in my handwriting which I have recogniz

لَا تَشْهَدَنَّ بِشَهَادَةٍ حَتَّى تَعْرِفَهَا كَمَا تَعْرِفُ كَفَّكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not testify for a case unless you know it as you know your palm.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا تَشْهَدْ بِشَهَادَةٍ لَا تَذْكُرُهَا فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ شَاءَ كَتَبَ كِتَاباً وَ نَقَشَ خَاتَماً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Do not testify for a case which you do not remember to have witnessed, because if one likes, he can write a document or draw an insignia.’”

مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ يَشْهَدُ بِشَهَادَةِ زُورٍ عَلَى مَالِ رَجُلٍ مُسْلِمٍ لِيَقْطَعَهُ إِلَّا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَكَانَهُ صَكّاً إِلَى النَّارِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever presents a false testimony against the assets of a Muslim man to cut off his ownership, for such witnessing Allah writes a certificate for him to the fire.’”

شَاهِدُ الزُّورِ لَا تَزُولُ قَدَمَاهُ حَتَّى تَجِبَ لَهُ النَّارُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one presents a false testimony, his feet do not move before the fire is made obligatory for him.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا يَنْقَضِي كَلَامُ شَاهِدِ الزُّورِ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيِ الْحَاكِمِ حَتَّى يَتَبَوَّأَ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ كَذَلِكَ مَنْ كَتَمَ الشَّهَادَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has pronounced this Hadith. ‘The words of one who presents false testimony do not end before the judge, until his seat is filled up with the fire; and so also is t

فِي الشُّهُودِ إِذَا شَهِدُوا عَلَى رَجُلٍ ثُمَّ رَجَعُوا عَنْ شَهَادَتِهِمْ وَ قَدْ قُضِيَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ ضُمِّنُوا مَا شَهِدُوا بِهِ وَ غُرِّمُوا وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ قُضِيَ طُرِحَتْ شَهَادَتُهُمْ وَ لَمْ يُغَرَّمِ الشُّهُودُ شَيْئاً.

“About the case of witnesses who testify against a man, then retract their testimony when judgment is already issued against the man, they are held responsible for what they have testified to and to compensate, but if judgment is not yet issued, their testimony is made void and the witnesses are not held responsible fo

يُؤَدِّي مِنَ الْمَالِ‌ الَّذِي شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِ بِقَدْرِ مَا ذَهَبَ مِنْ مَالِهِ إِنْ كَانَ النِّصْفَ أَوِ الثُّلُثَ إِنْ كَانَ شَهِدَ هَذَا وَ آخَرُ مَعَهُ.

“About the case of a man who testifies falsely and upon his repenting, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He must pay for the assets that are gone due to his false testimony, like one-half or one-third if another one has testified with him.’”

إِنْ كَانَ الشَّيْ‌ءُ قَائِماً بِعَيْنِهِ رُدَّ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ قَائِماً ضَمِنَ بِقَدْرِ مَا أُتْلِفَ مِنْ مَالِ الرَّجُلِ‌[1].

“About the case of false testimony abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If the asset exists in its substance, it must be returned to its owner, but if it does not exist, then he is responsible for an amount equal to what is lost from the assets of the man.’”

إِنْ قَالَ الرَّابِعُ أَوْهَمْتُ ضُرِبَ الْحَدَّ وَ غُرِّمَ الدِّيَةَ وَ إِنْ قَالَ تَعَمَّدْتُ قُتِلَ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from certain persons of his people who has narrated the following: “This is about the case of four men who testify against al-Muhsin (married male) to have committed fornication; then one of them retracts his testimony after the man is executed. Abu ‘Abd A

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ أَرْبَعَةٍ شَهِدُوا عَلَى رَجُلٍ بِالزِّنَى فَلَمَّا قُتِلَ رَجَعَ أَحَدُهُمْ عَنْ شَهَادَتِهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ يُقْتَلُ الرَّابِعُ وَ يُؤَدِّي الثَّلَاثَةُ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَرْبَاعِ الدِّيَةِ.

5. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from Ibrahim ibn Nu’aym al-’Azdiy who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of four witnesses who testify against a man to have committed fornication and when he is executed, one of them retracts his testimony. He (the Imam) said, ‘The four

فِي شَهَادَةِ الزُّورِ إِنْ كَانَ الشَّيْ‌ءُ قَائِماً بِعَيْنِهِ رُدَّ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ وَ إِلَّا ضَمِنَ بِقَدْرِ مَا أُتْلِفَ مِنْ مَالِ الرَّجُلِ.

“About the case of false testimony abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If the asset exists, it must be returned to the owner, otherwise, equal to what of the assets of the man is lost must be paid to him.’”

يُضْرَبَانِ الْحَدَّ وَ يُضَمَّنَانِ الصَّدَاقَ لِلزَّوْجِ ثُمَّ تَعْتَدُّ ثُمَّ تَرْجِعُ إِلَى زَوْجِهَا الْأَوَّلِ‌[2].

7. Ibn abu ‘Umayr has narrated from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid who has narrated the following: “About the case of two witnesses who testify for a woman that her husband has divorced her and she marries; but her husband comes and denies the divorce, he (the Imam) has said, ‘The two must be subjected to penalty and held r

قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي رَجُلٍ شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلَانِ بِأَنَّهُ سَرَقَ فَقَطَعَ يَدَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ جَاءَ الشَّاهِدَانِ بِرَجُلٍ آخَرَ فَقَالا هَذَا السَّارِقُ وَ لَيْسَ الَّذِي قَطَعْتَ يَدَهُ إِنَّمَا شَبَّهْنَا ذَلِكَ بِهَذَا فَقَضَى عَلَيْهِمَا أَنْ غَرَّمَهُمَا نِصْفَ الدِّيَةِ وَ لَمْ يُجِزْ شَهَادَتَهُمَا عَلَى الْآخَرِ[3].

“This is about the case of a man against whom two men had testified for theft, thus his hand was cut off and thereafter the two witnesses brought another man saying that this was the thief and not the one whose hand was cut off but we were only confused about it. Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that ’ Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يُجِيزُ فِي الدَّيْنِ شَهَادَةَ رَجُلٍ وَ يَمِينَ الْمُدَّعِي.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying that in the case of a loan ’ Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali, Alayhi al-Salam, would accept the testimony of one person with the oath of the plaintiff.”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي‌ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَضَى بِشَاهِدٍ وَ يَمِينٍ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa who has narrated the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, saying, ‘My father has narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, issued jud

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ عِنْدَ الرَّجُلِ الْحَقُّ وَ لَهُ شَاهِدٌ وَاحِدٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَقْضِي بِشَاهِدٍ وَاحِدٍ وَ يَمِينَ صَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ وَ ذَلِكَ فِي الدَّيْنِ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Zur’ah from Sama‘ah from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who has a certain claim on a man about which he has only one witness. He (the Imam) said, ‘The Messenger of All

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَقْضِي بِشَاهِدٍ وَاحِدٍ مَعَ يَمِينِ صَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ.

4. Abu Ali al-Ash ‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Mansur ibn Hazim who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would i

دَخَلَ الْحَكَمُ بْنُ عُتَيْبَةَ وَ سَلَمَةُ بْنُ كُهَيْلٍ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَسَأَلَاهُ عَنْ شَاهِدٍ وَ يَمِينٍ فَقَالَ قَضَى بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ قَضَى بِهِ عَلِيٌّ ع عِنْدَكُمْ بِالْكُوفَةِ فَقَالا هَذَا خِلَافُ الْقُرْآنِ فَقَالَ وَ أَيْنَ وَجَدْتُمُوهُ خِلَافَ الْقُرْآنِ فَقَالا إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ- وَ أَشْهِدُوا ذَوَيْ عَدْلٍ مِنْكُمْ‌[1] فَقَالَ لَهُمَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَوْ

“Once al-Hakam ibn ‘Utaybah and Salmah ibn Kuhayl visited abu Ja‘far, Alayhi al-Salam, and asked about the testimony of one witness and a oath. He (the Imam) said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, issued judgment on such basis as wel

إِذَا شَهِدَ لِصَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ امْرَأَتَانِ وَ يَمِينَهُ فَهُوَ جَائِزٌ.

6. Certain persons of our people have narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from Sayf ibn ’Am/rah from Mansur ibn Hazim who has narrated the following: “A trustworthy man narrated to me from abu al-Hassan, Alayhi al-Salam, who has said that if two women testify for the right of someone with his (plaintiff’s) oath, i

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص أَجَازَ شَهَادَةَ النِّسَاءِ مَعَ يَمِينِ الطَّالِبِ فِي الدَّيْنِ يَحْلِفُ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّ حَقَّهُ لَحَقٌّ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Urn ay r from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, accepted the testimon

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يُجِيزُ فِي الدَّيْنِ شَهَادَةَ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ وَ يَمِينَ صَاحِبِ الدَّيْنِ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُجِيزُ فِي الْهِلَالِ إِلَّا شَاهِدَيْ عَدْلٍ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their serv

قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِذَا رَأَيْتُ شَيْئاً فِي يَدَيْ رَجُلٍ أَ يَجُوزُ لِي أَنْ أَشْهَدَ أَنَّهُ لَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُ فِي يَدِهِ وَ لَا أَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُ لَهُ فَلَعَلَّهُ لِغَيْرِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ فَيَحِلُّ الشِّرَاءُ مِنْهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَعَلَّهُ لِغَيْرِهِ فَمِنْ أَيْنَ جَازَ لَكَ أَنْ تَشْتَرِيَهُ وَ يَصِيرَ مِلْكاً لَ

“Once a man asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘If I see something in the hand of a man can I testify that it belongs to him?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you can do so.’ The man then said, ‘I can testify that it is in his hand but how can I testify that it belongs to him, perhaps it belongs to someone else ? 5 He (the Imam) a

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ ابْنَ أَبِي لَيْلَى يَسْأَلُنِي الشَّهَادَةَ عَلَى أَنَّ هَذِهِ الدَّارَ مَاتَ فُلَانٌ وَ تَرَكَهَا مِيرَاثَهُ وَ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ وَارِثٌ غَيْرُ الَّذِي شَهِدْنَا لَهُ فَقَالَ اشْهَدْ بِمَا هُوَ عِلْمُكَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ ابْنَ أَبِي لَيْلَى يُحْلِفُنَا الْغَمُوسَ قَالَ احْلِفْ إِنَّمَا هُوَ عَلَى عِلْمِكَ.

“I once said to him (the Imam) (a.s.), that ibn abu Layla’ asks me to testify that this is a house and so and so has died and has left it behind as his legacy and that there is no other heir for him except the ones in whose favor we have testified. He (the Imam) said, ‘You can testify about what you have knowledge ther

قُلْتُ يَكُونُ لِلرَّجُلِ مِنْ إِخْوَانِي عِنْدِي شَهَادَةٌ وَ لَيْسَ كُلُّهَا يُجِيزُهَا الْقُضَاةُ عِنْدَنَا قَالَ فَإِذَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّهَا حَقٌّ فَصَحِّحْهَا بِكُلِّ وَجْهٍ حَتَّى يَصِحَّ لَهُ حَقُّهُ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that I bear a testimony for one of our brothers but all of the judges around us do not grant it. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you know that it is right then you can correct it as such that can prove his right.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ فِي دَارِهِ ثُمَّ يَغِيبُ عَنْهَا ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً وَ يَدَعُ فِيهَا عِيَالَهُ ثُمَّ يَأْتِينَا هَلَاكُهُ وَ نَحْنُ لَا نَدْرِي مَا أَحْدَثَ فِي دَارِهِ وَ لَا نَدْرِي مَا حَدَثَ لَهُ مِنَ الْوَلَدِ إِلَّا أَنَّا لَا نَعْلَمُ نَحْنُ أَنَّهُ أَحْدَثَ فِي دَارِهِ شَيْئاً وَ لَا حَدَثَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَ لَا يُقْسَمُ هَذِهِ الدَّارُ بَيْنَ وَرَثَتِهِ الَّذِينَ تَرَكَ فِي الد

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has a house and he remains absent from it for thirty years; but he leaves his family there, then news of his death comes. We do not know what may have happened in his house as well as to his children. We however, do not know of anything happening to his h

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ الْحَقُّ فَيَجْحَدُهُ حَقَّهُ وَ يَحْلِفُ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ لَيْسَ لِصَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ عَلَى حَقِّهِ بَيِّنَةٌ يَجُوزُ لَنَا إِحْيَاءُ حَقِّهِ بِشَهَادَةِ الزُّورِ إِذَا خُشِيَ ذَهَابُهُ فَقَالَ لَا يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ لِعِلَّةِ التَّدْلِيسِ‌[1].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man of truth whose claim is denied. The party swears that he does not owe anything in favor of the owner of right and the owner of right does not have any proof; if we can restore his right by false testimony if there is fear for the loss of his right. He (the Im

سَأَلْتُهُ قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ مَوَالِيكَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ لِرَجُلٍ مُخَالِفٍ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَعْسُرَهُ وَ يَحْبِسَهُ وَ قَدْ عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ وَ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَيْسَ لِغَرِيمِهِ بَيِّنَةٌ هَلْ يَجُوزُ لَهُ أَنْ يَحْلِفَ لَهُ لِيَدْفَعَهُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ حَتَّى يُيَسِّرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ الشُّهُودُ مِنْ مَوَالِيكَ قَدْ عَرَفُوا أَنَّهُ لَا يَقْدِرُ هَلْ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَشْهَدُ

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who is one of his followers and owes to a Mukhalif (opposing) man a certain amount of loan who wants to cause him difficulties and imprison him. He knows that he does not have anything to pay and he is not able to pay but his creditor has no proof, if it is permissible to

سَأَلْتُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ مَتَى تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ الْغُلَامِ فَقَالَ إِذَا بَلَغَ عَشْرَ سِنِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ يَجُوزُ أَمْرُهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص دَخَلَ بِعَائِشَةَ وَ هِيَ بِنْتُ عَشْرِ سِنِينَ وَ لَيْسَ يُدْخَلُ بِالْجَارِيَةِ حَتَّى تَكُونَ امْرَأَةً فَإِذَا كَانَ لِلْغُلَامِ عَشْرُ سِنِينَ جَازَ أَمْرُهُ وَ جَازَتْ‌

“I once asked Isma’il ibn Ja’far, ’When it is permissible for a boy to testify?’ He said, ’It is permissible when he becomes ten years old.’ I then asked, ‘Can he issue a command?’ He said, ‘The Messenger of Allah (sw) went to bed with ‘A’ishah when she was ten years old, and it is not permissible to go to bed with a g

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ الصِّبْيَانِ قَالَ نَعَمْ فِي الْقَتْلِ يُؤْخَذُ بِأَوَّلِ كَلَامِهِ وَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ بِالثَّانِي مِنْهُ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Jamil who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), if presenting testimony by children is permissible. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, in the case of murder his first words are accepted but not his second ones.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ شَهَادَةِ الصَّبِيِّ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا إِلَّا فِي الْقَتْلِ يُؤْخَذُ بِأَوَّلِ كَلَامِهِ وَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ بِالثَّانِي.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Muhammad ibn Humran who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the testimony of children. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, except in the case of murder, in which case his first words are accepted but his second words are not

فِي الصَّبِيِّ يُشْهَدُ عَلَى الشَّهَادَةِ قَالَ إِنْ عَقَلَهُ حِينَ يُدْرِكُ أَنَّهُ حَقٌّ جَازَتْ شَهَادَتُهُ.

4. Abu Ali al-Ash ‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “About the case of a child if his bearing testimony to an existing testimony, he (the Imam) said, ‘If his reason can comprehend when he becomes mature that i

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِنَّ شَهَادَةَ الصِّبْيَانِ إِذَا أَشْهَدُوهُمْ وَ هُمْ صِغَارٌ جَازَتْ إِذَا كَبِرُوا مَا لَمْ يَنْسَوْهَا.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘If children are asked to bear testimony if they did so as children it is permissible, when they grow up, to present it if they

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الصَّبِيِّ هَلْ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُ فِي الْقَتْلِ قَالَ يُؤْخَذُ بِأَوَّلِ كَلَامِهِ وَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ بِالثَّانِي.

6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Jamil who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a child if he can testify in the case of murder. He (the Imam) said, ‘His first words are accepted but his second words are not acce

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا بَأْسَ بِشَهَادَةِ الْمَمْلُوكِ إِذَا كَانَ عَدْلًا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘A slave’s testimony is not harmful if he is a just man.”’

إِذَا كَانَ عَدْلًا فَهُوَ جَائِزُ الشَّهَادَةِ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ رَدَّ شَهَادَةَ الْمَمْلُوكِ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ تَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ مَمْلُوكٌ فِي شَهَادَةٍ فَقَالَ إِنْ أَقَمْتُ الشَّهَادَةَ تَخَوَّفْتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي وَ إِنْ كَتَمْتُهَا أَثِمْتُ بِرَبِّي فَقَالَ هَاتِ شَهَادَتَكَ أَمَا إِنَّا لَا نُجِيزُ شَهَادَةَ مَمْلُوكٍ بَعْدَكَ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid and al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id all from al- Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Urwah from ‘Abd al-Hamid al-Ta’iy from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “About the testimony of a slave abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘If he is

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَمْلُوكِ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ رَدَّ شَهَادَةَ الْمَمْلُوكِ لَفُلَانٌ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, if the testimony of a slave is acceptable. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible and the first one who rejected the testimony of a slave was so and

قُلْنَا أَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِي الْحُدُودِ فَقَالَ فِي الْقَتْلِ وَحْدَهُ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع كَانَ يَقُولُ لَا يَبْطُلُ دَمُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ‌[1].

“We asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), if testimony of women is acceptable in penalty cases. He (the Imam) said, ‘Only in murder cases it is acceptable. ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), would say, “The blood (life) of a Muslim cannot be invalidated.’””

تَجُوزُ إِذَا كَانَ مَعَهُنَّ رَجُلٌ وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَقُولُ لَا أُجِيزُهَا فِي الطَّلَاقِ قُلْتُ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ مَعَ الرَّجُلِ فِي الدَّيْنِ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ شَهَادَةِ الْقَابِلَةِ فِي الْوِلَادَةِ قَالَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ الْوَاحِدَةِ وَ قَالَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ [فِي الدَّيْنِ وَ] فِي الْمَنْفُوسِ وَ الْعُذْرَةِ وَ حَدَّثَنِي مَنْ سَمِعَهُ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ أَخْبَرَهُ

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, if testimony by women is acceptable in the case of marriage?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is acceptable if there is a man with them. Ali (a.s.), would say, “I do not accept the testimony by women in divorce.’” I then asked if testimony of women with a man is acceptable in matters of

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ شَهَادَةِ النِّسَاءِ فِي الرَّجْمِ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ ثَلَاثَةُ رِجَالٍ وَ امْرَأَتَانِ وَ إِذَا كَانَ رَجُلَانِ وَ أَرْبَعُ نِسْوَةٍ لَمْ يَجُزْ فِي الرَّجْمِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the testimony of women in the case of stoning. He (the Imam) said, ‘If there are three men and two women, but if there are two men and four women, stoning is not permissible.’”