The Book of Testimony

لَقَدْ قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُ شَابٌّ يَبْكِي وَ حَوْلَهُ قَوْمٌ يُسْكِتُونَهُ فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّ شُرَيْحاً قَضَى عَلَيَّ قَضِيَّةً مَا أَدْرِي مَا هِيَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مَا هِيَ فَقَالَ الشَّابُّ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ النَّفَرَ خَرَجُوا بِأَبِي مَعَهُمْ فِي سَفَرٍ فَرَجَعُوا وَ لَمْ يَرْجِعْ فَسَأَلْتُهُمْ عَنْهُ فَقَال

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Abu Abdullah, from Is’haq Bin Ibrahim Al Kindy, from Khalid Al Nowfaly, from Al Asbagh Bin Nubata who said, ‘Amir Al-Momineen asws had judged, and a youth came across him asws and he was weeping, and round him was a group calming him. So when he saw Amir Al-Momineen asws , he

خَرَجَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ يُرِيدُ الْعِرَاقَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ أَسْوَدَانِ أَحَدُهُمَا غُلَامٌ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَمَّا أَتَى الْأَعْوَصَ‌[1] نَامَ الرَّجُلُ فَأَخَذَا صَخْرَةً فَشَدَخَا بِهَا رَأْسَهُ‌[2] فَأُخِذَا فَأُتِيَ بِهِمَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ وَ جَاءَ أَوْلِيَاءُ الْمَقْتُولِ فَسَأَلُوهُ أَنْ يُقِيدَهُمْ فَكَرِهَ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ فَسَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ قَالَ ع

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Safwan Bin Yahya, from Abdul Rahman Bin Al Hajjaj who said, ‘A man went out from Al-Medina intending for Al-Iraq. So two black men followed him, one of them being a slave of Abu Abdullah asws . So when he came to Al-Aws, the man slept. So they both took a rock and cracked his head

كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ بِالْمَدِينَةِ تُؤْتَى فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ عُمَرَ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهَا فَرَوَّعَهَا وَ أَمَرَ أَنْ يُجَاءَ بِهَا إِلَيْهِ فَفَزِعَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ فَأَخَذَهَا الطَّلْقُ فَانْطَلَقَتْ إِلَى بَعْضِ الدُّورِ فَوَلَدَتْ غُلَاماً فَاسْتَهَلَّ الْغُلَامُ ثُمَّ مَاتَ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ رَوْعَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ وَ مِنْ مَوْتِ الْغُلَامِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ جُلَسَائِهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَ

Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al Asamy, from Ali Bin Al Hassan Al Maysami, from Ali Bin Asbaat, from his uncle Yaqoub Bin Salim, (It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah asws having said: ‘There used to be a woman at Al-Medina to whom (visitors used to come to frequently). So the news of that reached Umar, so he sent a messenger

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَعْنَفَ عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ أَوِ امْرَأَةٍ أَعْنَفَتْ عَلَى زَوْجِهَا فَقَتَلَ أَحَدُهُمَا الْآخَرَ قَالَ لَا شَيْ‌ءَ عَلَيْهِمَا إِذَا كَانَا مَأْمُونَيْنِ فَإِنِ اتُّهِمَا أُلْزِمَا الْيَمِينَ بِاللَّهِ أَنَّهُمَا لَمْ يُرِيدَا الْقَتْلَ.

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Salih Bin Saeed, from Yunus, from one of his companions, (It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah asws , said, ‘I asked him asws about a man who was fierce upon his woman, or a woman who was fierce upon her husband, so one of the them killed the other one. He asws said: ‘There is

إِنْ كَانُوا مُتَّهَمِينَ ضَمِنُوا.

Muhammad Bin Yahya, raising it, Regarding a boy who entered a house of a people, so he fell down into well. So he asws said: ‘If they were suspicious, they would be responsible’.

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ قَتَلَ رَجُلًا نَاصِباً مَعْرُوفاً بِالنَّصْبِ عَلَى دِينِهِ غَضَباً لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَ يُقْتَلُ بِهِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا هَؤُلَاءِ فَيَقْتُلُونَهُ بِهِ وَ لَوْ رُفِعَ إِلَى إِمَامٍ عَادِلٍ ظَاهِرٍ لَمْ يَقْتُلْهُ بِهِ قُلْتُ فَيَبْطُلُ دَمُهُ قَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ إِنْ كَانَ لَهُ وَرَثَةٌ فَعَلَى الْإِمَامِ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُمُ الدِّيَةَ مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَالِ لِأَنَّ قَاتِ

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Mahboub, from Abu Ayoub, from Bureyd Al Ajaly who said, ‘I asked Abu Abdullah asws about a Believer who kills a well-known Hostile one (Nasibi), upon his Religion, being angry for the Sake of Allah azwj Blessed and High, would he be killed due to it?’ He asws said:

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ دَاوُدَ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ فَأُتِيَ بِرَجُلٍ قَدْ قَتَلَ رَجُلًا فَقَالَ لَهُ دَاوُدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ مَا تَقُولُ قَتَلْتَ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَنَا قَتَلْتُهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ دَاوُدُ وَ لِمَ قَتَلْتَهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى مَنْزِلِي بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِي فَاسْتَعْدَيْتُ عَلَيْهِ الْوُلَاةَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا قَبْلَكَ فَأَمَرُونِي إِنْ هُوَ دَخَلَ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنٍ أَنْ أَقْتُلَهُ فَقَت

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, and Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, both together, from Ibn Mahboub, from Ali Bin Al Hassan Bin Rabaat, from Ibn Muskan, from Abu Makhlad, (It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah asws , having said, ‘I asws was in the presence of Dawood Bin Ali, so they came with

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ لَنَا جَاراً مِنْ هَمْدَانَ يُقَالُ لَهُ الْجَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَ هُوَ يَجْلِسُ إِلَيْنَا فَنَذْكُرُ عَلِيّاً أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ فَضْلَهُ فَيَقَعُ فِيهِ أَ فَتَأْذَنُ لِي فِيهِ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا الصَّبَّاحِ أَ فَكُنْتَ فَاعِلًا فَقُلْتُ إِي وَ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ أَذِنْتَ لِي فِيهِ لَأَرْصُدَنَّهُ فَإِذَا صَارَ فِيهَا اقْتَحَمْتُ عَلَيْهِ بِسَيْفِي فَخَبَطْتُهُ‌[1

Ali Bin Ibrahim, form his father, from Ibn Mahboub, from a man from our companions, from Abu Al Sabbah Al Kinany who said, ‘I said to Abu Abdullah asws that we have a neighbour from Hamdan called Al-Ja’d Bin Abdullah, and he was sitting with us. So we mentioned Ali asws Amir Al-Momineen asws , and his asws merits, but

زَامَلْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ النَّجَاشِيِّ وَ كَانَ يَرَى رَأْيَ الزَّيْدِيَّةِ فَلَمَّا كُنَّا بِالْمَدِينَةِ ذَهَبَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَ ذَهَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ رَأَيْتُهُ مُغْتَمّاً فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ لِي اسْتَأْذِنْ لِي عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ النَّجَاشِيِّ يَرَى رَأْيَ الزَّيْ

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, from Ibn Mahboub – similar to it. Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, raising it, (It has been narrated) from one of the companions of Abu Abdullah asws , I guess it was Abu Aasim Al-Sajistany who said, ‘I was a fellow traveller of Abdullah Bin Al-Najjashy, and he viewed b

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كُنْتُ أَخْرُجُ فِي الْحَدَاثَةِ إِلَى الْمُخَارَجَةِ[2] مَعَ شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْحَيِّ وَ إِنِّي بُلِيتُ أَنْ ضَرَبْتُ رَجُلًا ضَرْبَةً بِعَصاً فَقَتَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ أَ كُنْتَ تَعْرِفُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ إِذْ ذَاكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَا فَقَالَ لِي مَا كُنْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ جَهْلِكَ بِهَذَا الْأَمْرِ أَشَدُّ عَلَيْكَ مِمَّا دَخَلْتَ فِيهِ. - مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَن

مَنِ اقْتُصَّ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ قَتِيلُ الْقُرْآنِ.

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Marouk Bin Ubeyd – similar to it. Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny, (It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah asws having said: ‘The one who is retaliated from it (Al-Wilayah), so he is killed (by the) Quran’.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْبِئْرُ جُبَارٌ وَ الْعَجْمَاءُ جُبَارٌ وَ الْمَعْدِنُ جُبَارٌ[1].

And by this chain, He asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah saww said: ‘(Being killed by) the well is ‘ Jubarru ’, (no wergild for it), and (being killed by) the beasts, is ‘ Jubarru ’ (no wergild for it), and (being killed by) the mines, is ‘ Jubarru ’ (no wergild for it’.

رُفِعَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص رَجُلٌ دَاسَ بَطْنَ رَجُلٍ حَتَّى أَحْدَثَ فِي ثِيَابِهِ فَقَضَى ع عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُدَاسَ بَطْنُهُ حَتَّى يُحْدِثَ فِي ثِيَابِهِ كَمَا أَحْدَثَ أَوْ يَغْرَمَ ثُلُثَ الدِّيَةِ[2]. هَذَا آخِرُ كِتَابِ الدِّيَاتِ وَ يَتْلُوهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى كِتَابُ الشَّهَادَاتِ.

لَمَّا قَدِمَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَلَى أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ وَ هُوَ بِالْحِيرَةِ خَرَجَ يَوْماً يُرِيدُ عِيسَى بْنَ مُوسَى فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُ بَيْنَ الْحِيرَةِ وَ الْكُوفَةِ[1] وَ مَعَهُ ابْنُ شُبْرُمَةَ الْقَاضِي فَقَالَ لَهُ إِلَى أَيْنَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ أَرَدْتُكَ فَقَالَ قَدْ قَصَّرَ اللَّهُ خَطْوَكَ قَالَ فَمَضَى مَعَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ شُبْرُمَةَ مَا تَقُولُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ

“When abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), went to meet abu al- ‘Abbas who was in al-Hirah (a place in Iraq), one day he came out for ‘Isa ibn Musa. They came face to face between al-Hirah and al-Kufah when ibn Shubramah, the judge, was also with him and he asked, ‘Where do you want to go, O abu ‘Abd Allah ? 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘I

لَمَّا عُرِضَ عَلَى آدَمَ وُلْدُهُ نَظَرَ إِلَى دَاوُدَ فَأَعْجَبَهُ فَزَادَهُ خَمْسِينَ سَنَةً مِنْ عُمُرِهِ قَالَ وَ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ وَ مِيكَائِيلُ فَكَتَبَ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ صَكّاً بِالْخَمْسِينَ سَنَةً فَلَمَّا حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ آدَمُ قَدْ بَقِيَ مِنْ عُمُرِي خَمْسُونَ سَنَةً قَالَ فَأَيْنَ الْخَمْسُونَ الَّتِي جَعَلْتَهَا لِابْنِكَ دَاوُدَ قَالَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when Adam (a.s.), was shown his offspring, he looked at Dawud, he liked him and donated fifty years of his life to him. He (the Imam) said that Jibril and Michael came to him and the angel of death wrote a document about fifty years of his life being donated. When the time of his d

لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ إِذَا دُعِيَ إِلَى الشَّهَادَةِ يَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهَا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَا أَشْهَدُ لَكُمْ.

“About the meaning of the words of Allah, "... the witnesses must not refuse to testify when they are summoned to testify,’ (2:282) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not proper for one who is called to testify to what he has witnessed to say, “I do not want to testify for you.’””

لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ إِذَا دُعِيَ إِلَى شَهَادَةٍ يَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهَا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَا أَشْهَدُ لَكُمْ. - عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ وَ قَالَ فَذَلِكَ قَبْلَ الْكِتَابِ.

“About the meaning of the words of Allah, ‘. . . the witnesses must not refuse to testify when they are summoned to testify,’ (2:282) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not proper for one who is called to testify to what he has witnessed to say, “I do not want to testify for you.’”” Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated fr

إِذَا دَعَاكَ الرَّجُلُ لِتَشْهَدَ لَهُ عَلَى دَيْنٍ أَوْ حَقٍّ لَمْ يَنْبَغِ لَكَ أَنْ تَقَاعَسَ عَنْهُ‌[1].

“This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. ‘. . . the witnesses must not refuse to testify when they are summoned to testify,’ (2:282) abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘When the man calls you to testify for him about a loan or a right, it is not proper for you to refuse and step back

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ وَ لا يَأْبَ الشُّهَداءُ إِذا ما دُعُوا قَالَ قَبْلَ الشَّهَادَةِ.

“This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. ‘. . . the witnesses must not refuse to testify when they are summoned to testify,’ (2:282) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is before the presentation of testimony.’”

إِذَا دُعِيتَ إِلَى الشَّهَادَةِ فَأَجِبْ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘When you are called to present your testimony you must accept to testify.’”

لا يَأْبَ الشُّهَداءُ أَنْ تُجِيبَ حِينَ تُدْعَى قَبْلَ الْكِتَابِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Witnesses must not refuse to present their testimony when they are called before it (the case and testimony) is written down.’”

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