The Case of Two People who Claim for Something Each one with Testimony

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَأْتِي الْقَوْمَ فَيَدَّعِي دَاراً فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ يُقِيمُ الَّذِي فِي يَدِهِ الدَّارُ الْبَيِّنَةَ أَنَّهُ وَرِثَهَا عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ لَا يَدْرِي كَيْفَ كَانَ أَمْرُهَا فَقَالَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بَيِّنَةً يُسْتَحْلَفُ وَ يُدْفَعُ إِلَيْهِ وَ ذَكَرَ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً ع أَتَاهُ قَوْمٌ يَخْتَصِمُونَ فِي بَغْلَةٍ فَقَامَتِ الْبَيِّنَةُ لِهَؤُلَاءِ أَنَّهُمْ أَنْتَجُوهَا عَلَى مِ

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who comes to a certain people and claims the house. It is in their possession but he claims to be his house. The one who has the house in his possession presents testimony that he has inherited it from his father but does not know more about it. He (the Imam)

فِي دَابَّةٍ فِي أَيْدِيهِمَا وَ أَقَامَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا الْبَيِّنَةَ أَنَّهَا نُتِجَتْ عِنْدَهُ فَأَحْلَفَهُمَا عَلِيٌّ ع فَحَلَفَ أَحَدُهُمَا وَ أَبَى الْآخَرُ أَنْ يَحْلِفَ فَقَضَى بِهَا لِلْحَالِفِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ فَلَوْ لَمْ تَكُنْ فِي يَدِ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا وَ أَقَامَا الْبَيِّنَةَ قَالَ أُحْلِفُهُمَا فَأَيُّهُمَا حَلَفَ وَ نَكَلَ الْآخَرُ جَعَلْتُهَا لِلْحَالِفِ فَإِنْ حَلَفَا جَمِيعاً جَعَلْتُهَا بَيْنَه

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once two men presented their case before Amir al- Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), about a stumper in their hand and each presented testimony that it was bred in his facilities. He (the Imam) then asked them to take an oath. One party did not take oath, then he (the Imam) issued a judgment in

كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع إِذَا أَتَاهُ رَجُلَانِ بِشُهُودٍ عَدْلُهُمْ سَوَاءٌ وَ عَدَدُهُمْ أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَهُمْ عَلَى أَيِّهِمْ تَصِيرُ الْيَمِينُ قَالَ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ أَيُّهُمْ كَانَ لَهُ الْحَقُّ فَأَدِّهِ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُ الْحَقَّ لِلَّذِي تَصِيرُ إِلَيْهِ الْيَمِينُ إِذَا حَلَفَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’ Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), whenever two people came before him with just witnesses in equal numbers, would cast a raffle about who must take the oath.’ He (the Imam) said that he (the Imam) would say, ‘O Lord of the seven heavens, whoever is right then make it available for hi

يُقْرَعُ بَيْنَهُمْ فَأَيُّهُمْ قُرِعَ عَلَيْهِ الْيَمِينُ فَهُوَ أَوْلَى بِالْقَضَاءِ.

“About the case of two witnesses who testify about one thing and two others testify differently, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a raffle must be arranged and whoever ’s name comes out to take an oath then judgment must be issued in his favor.’”

أَنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ عَرَفَا بَعِيراً فَأَقَامَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بَيِّنَةً فَجَعَلَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بَيْنَهُمَا.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from Sammak ibn Harb from Tamim ibn Tarafah who has narrated the following: “Once, two men recognized a camel and each one presented testimony. ’ Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), made it half and half for them.’”

لَوْ لَمْ تَكُنْ فِي يَدِهِ جَعَلْتُهَا بَيْنَهُمَا نِصْفَيْنِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once two men presented their case before Amir al- Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), about a stumper and both presented testimony that he has bred it in his facilities. He (the Imam) issued a judgment in favor of the one who had it in his possession saying, ‘Had it not been in his possession I