قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْبَيِّنَةُ عَلَى مَنِ ادَّعَى وَ الْيَمِينُ عَلَى مَنِ ادُّعِيَ عَلَيْهِ.
“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, ’Establishing testimony (the burden of proof) is on the plaintiff and oath is on the defendant.”’
إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَكَمَ فِي دِمَائِكُمْ بِغَيْرِ مَا حَكَمَ بِهِ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ حَكَمَ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ أَنَّ الْبَيِّنَةَ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِي وَ الْيَمِينَ عَلَى الْمُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِ وَ حَكَمَ فِي دِمَائِكُمْ أَنَّ الْبَيِّنَةَ عَلَى مَنِ ادُّعِيَ عَلَيْهِ وَ الْيَمِينَ عَلَى مَنِ ادَّعَى لِكَيْلَا يَبْطُلَ دَمُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ.
2. Abu Ali al-Ash ‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from abu ‘Abd Allah, ibn Bukayr from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘In the matters of your blood (lives), Allah has judged differently from His judging in matters of your
قُلْتُ لِلشَّيْخِ ع[1] خَبِّرْنِي عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَدَّعِي قِبَلَ الرَّجُلِ الْحَقَّ فَلَا يَكُونُ لَهُ بَيِّنَةٌ بِمَا لَهُ قَالَ فَيَمِينُ الْمُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِ فَإِنْ حَلَفَ فَلَا حَقَّ لَهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَحْلِفْ فَعَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ الْمَطْلُوبُ بِالْحَقِّ قَدْ مَاتَ فَأُقِيمَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْبَيِّنَةُ فَعَلَى الْمُدَّعِي الْيَمِينُ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَقَدْ مَاتَ فُلَانٌ وَ إِنَّ حَقَّهُ
“I once said to the Shaykh (a.s.), to instruct me about the case of a man who claims against another for owing him a certain right but has no testimony to prove it. He (the Imam) said, ‘The defendant then must take an oath; and if he did so then he does not have any right, if he did not take an oath his right is establ
يَسْتَحْلِفُهُ فَإِنْ رَدَّ الْيَمِينَ عَلَى صَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ فَلَمْ يَحْلِفْ فَلَا حَقَّ لَهُ.
“This is about the case of a man who brings a complaint against another but does not have testimony. One of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘He must ask him (defendant) to take an oath; and if he turns the oath on the plaintiff who does not take oath, then he has no right.’”
يُسْتَحْلَفُ أَوْ يَرُدَّ الْيَمِينَ عَلَى صَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَلَا حَقَّ لَهُ.
“About the case of a man who brings a complaint against another but does not have testimony, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He must ask him (defendant) to take an oath, and if he turns the oath on the plaintiff who does not take the oath, then he has no right.’”
اسْتِخْرَاجُ الْحُقُوقِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ وُجُوهٍ بِشَهَادَةِ رَجُلَيْنِ عَدْلَيْنِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ رَجُلَيْنِ عَدْلَيْنِ فَرَجُلٌ وَ امْرَأَتَانِ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنِ امْرَأَتَانِ فَرَجُلٌ وَ يَمِينُ الْمُدَّعِي فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ شَاهِدٌ فَالْيَمِينُ عَلَى الْمُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَحْلِفْ [وَ] رَدَّ الْيَمِينَ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِي فَهُوَ وَاجِبٌ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَحْلِفَ وَ يَأْخُذَ حَقَّهُ فَإِنْ أَبَى أَنْ يَحْلِف
“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘There are four ways to prove a case. One way to prove it is the testimony of two just men, if this is not available, then one man and two women, if this is not available, then it is the testimony of one man and the oath of the plaintiff; if there is no witness then the oath is on the d
يُسْتَحْلَفُ الْمُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِ فَإِنْ أَبَى أَنْ يَحْلِفَ وَ قَالَ أَنَا أَرُدُّ الْيَمِينَ عَلَيْكَ لِصَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ وَاجِبٌ عَلَى صَاحِبِ الْحَقِّ أَنْ يَحْلِفَ وَ يَأْخُذَ مَالَهُ.
“This is about the case of a man who claims to have a right on another man but does not have any testimony. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He can ask the defendant to take an oath, but if he declines and asks the plaintiff to take an oath, then it is obligatory on him to take an oath to receive his right.’”
يُرَدُّ الْيَمِينُ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِي.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the oath can be turned to the plaintiff.”
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُقِيمُ الْبَيِّنَةَ عَلَى حَقِّهِ هَلْ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُسْتَحْلَفَ قَالَ لَا.
“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who has testimony; if it is obligatory on him to take an oath. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not obligatory on him/”
إِذَا أَقَامَ الرَّجُلُ الْبَيِّنَةَ عَلَى حَقِّهِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ يَمِينٌ فَإِنْ لَمْ يُقِمِ الْبَيِّنَةَ فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ الَّذِي ادُّعِيَ عَلَيْهِ الْيَمِينَ فَإِنْ أَبَى أَنْ يَحْلِفَ فَلَا حَقَّ لَهُ. - عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مِثْلَهُ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man presents testimony to prove his right, it then is not obligatory on him to take an oath; but if he does not present testimony and the defendant turns the oath to him and he (plaintiff) declines to take an oath, he then does not have any right.”’ Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated f
إِذَا رَضِيَ صَاحِبُ الْحَقِّ بِيَمِينِ الْمُنْكِرِ لِحَقِّهِ فَاسْتَحْلَفَهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لَا حَقَّ لَهُ قِبَلَهُ ذَهَبَتِ الْيَمِينُ بِحَقِّ الْمُدَّعِي فَلَا دَعْوَى لَهُ قُلْتُ لَهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ بَيِّنَةٌ عَادِلَةٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ إِنْ أَقَامَ بَعْدَ مَا اسْتَحْلَفَهُ بِاللَّهِ خَمْسِينَ قَسَامَةً مَا كَانَ لَهُ وَ كَانَتِ الْيَمِينُ قَدْ أَبْطَلَتْ كُلَّ مَا ادَّعَاهُ قَبْلَهُ مِمَّا قَدِ اسْتَحْلَف
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’If a plaintiff agrees with the defendant’s taking an oath who then swears that the plaintiff does not have any right on him, it abolishes the right of the plaintiff and the case is dismissed.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if he can present just testimony?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, eve
إِنِ اسْتَحْلَفَهُ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ شَيْئاً وَ إِنْ تَرَكَهُ وَ لَمْ يَسْتَحْلِفْهُ فَهُوَ عَلَى حَقِّهِ.
“About the case of a man who has a certain right on another man who denies it, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If he has made him to take an oath, then he does not have any right; but if he has not made him to take an oath, then his right is in place.’”
لَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَطْلُبَ مِنْهُ وَ كَذَلِكَ إِنِ احْتَسَبَهُ[2] عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَطْلُبَهُ مِنْهُ.
“This is about the case of a man to whom another man owes a certain amount of assets who denies and takes an oath that he does not owe him anything; if he (plaintiff) must be content with it or there is any remedy for him? He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘He does not have any right thereafter and so also is the case if
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
قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ شَهِدَ لَهُ رَجُلَانِ بِأَنَّ لَهُ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ خَمْسِينَ دِرْهَماً وَ جَاءَ آخَرَانِ فَشَهِدَا بِأَنَّ لَهُ عِنْدَهُ مِائَةَ دِرْهَمٍ كُلُّهُمْ شَهِدُوا فِي مَوْقِفٍ قَالَ أَقْرِعْ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ اسْتَحْلِفِ الَّذِينَ أَصَابَهُمُ الْقَرْعُ بِاللَّهِ أَنَّهُمْ يَحْلِفُونَ بِالْحَقِ[1].
“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of two men who testify in favor of a man to confirm that so and so owes him fifty dirham, then two other men testify and state that he owes him one hundred dirham and all of them testify at the same place. He (the Imam) said, ‘I (in such case) arrange a raffle and whoever
فِي رَجُلٍ كَانَتْ لَهُ امْرَأَةٌ فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ بِشُهُودٍ أَنَّ هَذِهِ الْمَرْأَةَ امْرَأَةُ فُلَانٍ وَ جَاءَ آخَرُونَ فَشَهِدُوا أَنَّهَا امْرَأَةُ فُلَانٍ فَاعْتَدَلَ الشُّهُودُ وَ عُدِّلُوا قَالَ يُقْرَعُ بَيْنَ الشُّهُودِ فَمَنْ خَرَجَ سَهْمُهُ فَهُوَ الْمُحِقُّ وَ هُوَ أَوْلَى بِهَا.
“This is about the case of a man who has a woman but a man comes with witnesses to prove her to be his woman, yet others come with testimony to prove her to be the woman of so and so and they all are just witnesses. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A raffle must be arranged and whoever’s name comes out is the rightful
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَنْ جَارِيَةٍ لَمْ تُدْرِكْ بِنْتِ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ مَعَ رَجُلٍ وَ امْرَأَةٍ ادَّعَى الرَّجُلُ أَنَّهَا مَمْلُوكَةٌ لَهُ وَ ادَّعَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ أَنَّهَا ابْنَتُهَا فَقَالَ قَدْ قَضَى فِي هَذَا عَلِيٌّ ع قُلْتُ وَ مَا قَضَى فِي هَذَا عَلِيٌّ ع قَالَ كَانَ يَقُولُ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ أَحْرَارٌ إِلَّا مَنْ أَقَرَّ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِالرِّقِّ وَ هُوَ مُدْرِكٌ وَ مَنْ أَقَامَ بَيِّنَةً عَلَى مَنِ ا
“I once asked Abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the case of a girl who is not mature. She is about seven years old. She lives with a man and a woman. The man claims her to be his slave and the woman claims her to be her daughter. He (the Imam) said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.) had issued a judgment about it. I then asked,
إِنَّ دَاوُدَ ع سَأَلَ رَبَّهُ أَنْ يُرِيَهُ قَضِيَّةً مِنْ قَضَايَا الْآخِرَةِ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ يَا دَاوُدُ أَنَّ الَّذِي سَأَلْتَنِي لَمْ أُطْلِعْ عَلَيْهِ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِي وَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَقْضِيَ بِهِ غَيْرِي قَالَ فَلَمْ يَمْنَعْهُ ذَلِكَ أَنْ عَادَ فَسَأَلَ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُرِيَهُ قَضِيَّةً مِنْ قَضَايَا الْآخِرَةِ قَالَ فَأَتَاهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا دَاوُدُ
“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that once Dawud ‘Alayhi al-Salam, asked his Lord to show him one of the cases of the next life being judged. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent him revelation. It said, ‘O Dawud, what you have asked Me is something about which no one of My creatures has known. It is not proper for an
فِي الرَّجُلِ يُبْضِعُهُ الرَّجُلُ ثَلَاثِينَ دِرْهَماً فِي ثَوْبٍ وَ آخَرُ عِشْرِينَ دِرْهَماً فِي ثَوْبٍ فَبَعَثَ بِالثَّوْبَيْنِ فَلَمْ يَعْرِفْ هَذَا ثَوْبَهُ وَ لَا هَذَا ثَوْبَهُ قَالَ يُبَاعُ الثَّوْبَانِ فَيُعْطَى صَاحِبُ الثَّلَاثِينَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَخْمَاسٍ الثَّمَنِ وَ الْآخَرُ خُمُسَيِ الثَّمَنِ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّ صَاحِبَ الْعِشْرِينَ قَالَ لِصَاحِبِ الثَّلَاثِينَ اخْتَرْ أَيَّهُمَا شِئْتَ قَالَ قَدْ أَنْصَفَهُ.
“This is about the case of a man to whom one man sends thirty dirham in a piece of cloth, another man sends him twenty dirham in a piece of cloth and they become mixed so much that he cannot distinguish. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He must give three-fifths of the value to the man of thirty dirham and two-fifths
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَبَّلَ رَجُلًا عَنْ حَفْرِ بِئْرٍ عَشْرَ قَامَاتٍ بِعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ فَحَفَرَ قَامَةً ثُمَّ عَجَزَ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ جُزْءٌ مِنْ خَمْسَةٍ وَ خَمْسِينَ جُزْءاً مِنَ الْعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ[1].
“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who forms a contract with another man. It requires him to dig a well of ten heights of a man deep for ten dirhams of which he digs one height and could not do the rest. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He deserves one part out of fifty- five parts of a ten d
أُتِيَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ بِامْرَأَةٍ قَدْ تَعَلَّقَتْ بِرَجُلٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ وَ كَانَتْ تَهْوَاهُ وَ لَمْ تَقْدِرْ لَهُ عَلَى حِيلَةٍ فَذَهَبَتْ فَأَخَذَتْ بَيْضَةً فَأَخْرَجَتْ مِنْهَا الصُّفْرَةَ وَ صَبَّتِ الْبَيَاضَ عَلَى ثِيَابِهَا بَيْنَ فَخِذَيْهَا ثُمَّ جَاءَتْ إِلَى عُمَرَ فَقَالَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ أَخَذَنِي فِي مَوْضِعِ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَفَضَحَنِي قَالَ فَهَمَّ عُمَ
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a woman was brought before ‘Umar. She was attached to a man of al-Ansar (people of al-Madinah) and loved him but was not able to achieve from him what she wanted. She plotted to use the white part of the egg, after removing the yolk, poured it on her cloth between her thighs a
قُلْتُ عَشَرَةٌ كَانُوا جُلُوساً وَ وَسْطَهُمْ كِيسٌ فِيهِ أَلْفُ دِرْهَمٍ فَسَأَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً أَ لَكُمْ هَذَا الْكِيسُ فَقَالُوا كُلُّهُمْ لَا وَ قَالَ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمْ هُوَ لِي فَلِمَنْ هُوَ قَالَ لِلَّذِي ادَّعَاهُ.[2]
“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of ten people sitting in a certain place, among them there was a bag with a thousand dirham in it and they asked each other about whose bag is it. No one claimed it except one man. To whom does it belong?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It belongs to the one who claimed it.’”
يَا أَحْكَمَ الْحَاكِمِينَ احْكُمْ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ أُمِّي فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ يَا غُلَامُ لِمَ تَدْعُو عَلَى أُمِّكَ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّهَا حَمَلَتْنِي فِي بَطْنِهَا تِسْعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَ أَرْضَعَتْنِي حَوْلَيْنِ فَلَمَّا تَرَعْرَعْتُ[1] وَ عَرَفْتُ الْخَيْرَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ وَ يَمِينِي عَنْ شِمَالِي طَرَدَتْنِي وَ انْتَفَتْ مِنِّي وَ زَعَمَتْ أَنَّهَا لَا تَعْرِفُنِي فَقَالَ عُم
“I heard a boy in al-Madinah saying, ‘O best of judges, judge between me and my mother.’ ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab asked, ‘O boy, why do you pray against your mother?’ He replied, ‘O ’Amir al-Mu’minin, she bore me in her womb for nine months and breastfed me until I began to move, learn to distinguish between good and bad,
أُتِيَ عُمَرُ بِامْرَأَةٍ تَزَوَّجَهَا شَيْخٌ فَلَمَّا أَنْ وَاقَعَهَا مَاتَ عَلَى بَطْنِهَا فَجَاءَتْ بِوَلَدٍ فَادَّعَى بَنُوهُ أَنَّهَا فَجَرَتْ وَ تَشَاهَدُوا عَلَيْهَا فَأَمَرَ بِهَا عُمَرُ أَنْ تُرْجَمَ فَمَرَّ بِهَا عَلِيٌّ ع فَقَالَتْ يَا ابْنَ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي حُجَّةً قَالَ هَاتِي حُجَّتَكِ فَدَفَعَتْ إِلَيْهِ كِتَاباً فَقَرَأَهُ فَقَالَ هَذِهِ الْمَرْأَةُ تُعْلِمُكُمْ بِيَوْمَ تَزَوَّجَهَا وَ
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a woman was brought before ‘Umar who was married to an old man who when going to bed with her had died on her belly. When she gave birth to a boy, his sons claimed that she has committed fornication and presented testimony against her. ‘Umar commanded to stone her to death. Al
مَا أَنْتَ مَوْلَايَ بَلْ أَنَا مَوْلَاكَ قَالَ فَمَا زَالَ ذَا يَتَوَعَّدُ ذَا وَ ذَا يَتَوَعَّدُ ذَا وَ يَقُولُ كَمَا أَنْتَ حَتَّى نَأْتِيَ الْكُوفَةَ يَا عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ فَأَذْهَبَ بِكَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَلَمَّا أَتَيَا الْكُوفَةَ أَتَيَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَقَالَ الَّذِي ضَرَبَ الْغُلَامَ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ هَذَا غُلَامٌ لِي وَ إِنَّهُ أَذْنَبَ فَضَرَبْتُهُ فَوَثَبَ عَلَيَّ وَ قَالَ الْآخَرُ
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that in the time of the government of Ali (a.s.), a man from the mountains with his slave went for al-Hajj. His slave committed a sin and his master beat him as a measure for discipline. He (the slave) said, ‘You are not my master. I am your master.’ They continued threatening each othe
أُتِيَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ بِجَارِيَةٍ قَدْ شَهِدُوا عَلَيْهَا أَنَّهَا بَغَتْ وَ كَانَ مِنْ قِصَّتِهَا أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ يَتِيمَةً عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ وَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ كَثِيراً مَا يَغِيبُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ فَشَبَّتِ الْيَتِيمَةُ فَتَخَوَّفَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَهَا زَوْجُهَا فَدَعَتْ بِنِسْوَةٍ حَتَّى أَمْسَكْنَهَا فَأَخَذَتْ عُذْرَتَهَا بِإِصْبَعِهَا فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ زَوْجُهَا مِنْ غَيْبَتِهِ رَمَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ
Once a girl was brought before ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab and testimony was presented against her for committing fornication. Her story was that she was an orphan with a man who very often remained absent from his family. The orphan girl matured and the woman feared her husband’s being attracted to the young girl. She called
سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي لَيْلَى يُحَدِّثُ أَصْحَابَهُ فَقَالَ: قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ اصْطَحَبَا فِي سَفَرٍ فَلَمَّا أَرَادَا الْغَدَاءَ أَخْرَجَ أَحَدَهُمَا مِنْ زَادِهِ خَمْسَةَ أَرْغِفَةٍ وَ أَخْرَجَ الْآخَرُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَرْغِفَةٍ فَمَرَّ بِهِمَا عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ فَدَعَوَاهُ إِلَى طَعَامِهِمَا فَأَكَلَ الرَّجُلُ مَعَهُمَا حَتَّى لَمْ يَبْقَ شَيْءٌ فَلَمَّا فَرَغُوا أَعْطَاهُمَا الْعَابِرُ بِه
“I once heard ibn abu Layla’ speaking to his people. He said, ‘About the case of two men of whom one during a journey for their lunch took out of his supplies five loafs of bread, the other one took out three and a passerby, whom they invited joined them for lunch, ate with them so they finished all the loafs. The pass
قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي رَجُلٍ أَكَلَ وَ أَصْحَابٌ لَهُ شَاةً فَقَالَ إِنْ أَكَلْتُمُوهَا فَهِيَ لَكُمْ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَأْكُلُوهَا فَعَلَيْكُمْ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَقَضَى فِيهِ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ بَاطِلٌ لَا شَيْءَ فِي الْمُؤَاكَلَةِ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ مَا قَلَّ مِنْهُ وَ مَا كَثُرَ وَ مَنَعَ غَرَامَتَهُ فِيهِ.
“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that about the case of a man who had a sheep told his people, ‘If you eat all of it, it then is yours; but if you could not eat, then you must pay such and such amount.’ ’ Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali, issued a judgment that said, ‘It is invalid. There is nothing in eating food, more or less’; and
اسْتَوْدَعَ رَجُلَانِ امْرَأَةً وَدِيعَةً وَ قَالا لَهَا لَا تَدْفَعِيهَا إِلَى وَاحِدٍ مِنَّا حَتَّى نَجْتَمِعَ عِنْدَكِ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَا فَغَابَا فَجَاءَ أَحَدُهُمَا إِلَيْهَا فَقَالَ أَعْطِينِي وَدِيعَتِي فَإِنَّ صَاحِبِي قَدْ مَاتَ فَأَبَتْ حَتَّى كَثُرَ اخْتِلَافُهُ ثُمَّ أَعْطَتْهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَ الْآخَرُ فَقَالَ هَاتِي وَدِيعَتِي فَقَالَتْ أَخَذَهَا صَاحِبُكَ وَ ذَكَرَ أَنَّكَ قَدْ مِتَّ فَارْتَفَعَا إِلَى عُمَرَ
“Two men once left something in trust with a woman and said, ‘Do not give it back unless we both are present.’ They remained absent; then one of them came to her and asked for the trust saying, ‘My friend has died.’ She refused and the argument became a great deal. She then gave it to him then the other one came and as
قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَوْ رَأَيْتَ غَيْلَانَ بْنَ جَامِعٍ وَ اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَيَّ فَأَذِنْتُ لَهُ وَ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَدْخُلُ إِلَى بَنِي هَاشِمٍ فَلَمَّا جَلَسَ قَالَ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ أَنَا غَيْلَانُ بْنُ جَامِعٍ الْمُحَارِبِيُّ قَاضِي ابْنِ هُبَيْرَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا غَيْلَانُ مَا أَظُنُّ ابْنَ هُبَيْرَةَ وَضَعَ عَلَى قَضَائِهِ إِلَّا فَقِيهاً قَالَ أَجَلْ قُلْتُ يَا غَيْلَانُ تَجْمَعُ ب
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘If you see Ghaylan ibn Jami‘ ask permission for a meeting with me, you should give him permission. I had information that he would meet with people of banu Hashim.’ When he sat down he said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, I am Ghaylan ibn Jami‘ al-Muharibiy, judge of ibn Hu
كَانَتْ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ مُعَامَلَةٌ فَخَانَنِي بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فَقَدَّمْتُهُ إِلَى الْوَالِي فَأَحْلَفْتُهُ فَحَلَفَ وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ حَلَفَ يَمِيناً فَاجِرَةً فَوَقَعَ لَهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ عِنْدِي أَرْبَاحٌ وَ دَرَاهِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَقْتَصَّ الْأَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ الَّتِي كَانَتْ لِي عِنْدَهُ وَ حَلَفَ عَلَيْهَا فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع وَ أَخْبَرْتُهُ أَنِّي قَدْ
“Once I had a business deal with a Jewish man and he cheated me in the deal for one thousand dirham. I took him before the governor and made him take an oath, which he did. I knew that it was a sinful oath, taking on his part. Afterward a profit of many dirham emerged for him with me, I wanted to compensate the one tho
سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْبَيِّنَةِ إِذَا أُقِيمَتْ عَلَى الْحَقِّ أَ يَحِلُّ لِلْقَاضِي أَنْ يَقْضِيَ بِقَوْلِ الْبَيِّنَةِ إِذَا لَمْ يَعْرِفْهُمْ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ خَمْسَةُ أَشْيَاءَ يَجِبُ عَلَى النَّاسِ أَنْ يَأْخُذُوا بِهَا ظَاهِرَ الْحُكْمِ الْوِلَايَاتُ وَ التَّنَاكُحُ وَ الْمَوَارِيثُ وَ الذَّبَائِحُ وَ الشَّهَادَاتُ فَإِذَا كَانَ ظَاهِرُهُ ظَاهِراً مَأْمُوناً جَازَتْ شَهَادَتُهُ وَ لَا يُسْأَلُ
“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about testimony when it is presented before a judge; if he can issue a judgment on the basis of the testimony, which he does not know, without asking? He (the Imam) said, ‘In five things it is obligatory on people to accept them for the face value of the rule: guardianship, marriage
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ دَفَعَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ يَخْلِطُهَا بِمَالِهِ وَ يَتَّجِرُ بِهَا فَلَمَّا طَلَبَهَا مِنْهُ قَالَ ذَهَبَ الْمَالُ وَ كَانَ لِغَيْرِهِ مَعَهُ مِثْلُهَا وَ مَالٌ كَثِيرٌ لِغَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ كَيْفَ صَنَعَ أُولَئِكَ قَالَ أَخَذُوا أَمْوَالَهُمْ نَفَقَاتٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جَمِيعاً يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِ بِمَالِهِ وَ يَ
“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who gives one thousand dirham to a man to mix with his assets and use in trade. When he asks for payment, he says that the asset has gone along with an equal amount of assets that belongs to someone else with a great deal of funds of other people. He then asks, ‘
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ أَجِيراً فَلَمْ يَأْمَنْ أَحَدُهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ فَوَضَعَ الْأَجْرَ عَلَى يَدِ رَجُلٍ فَهَلَكَ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ وَ لَمْ يَدَعْ وَفَاءً فَاسْتَهْلَكَ الْأَجْرُ فَقَالَ الْمُسْتَأْجِرُ ضَامِنٌ لِأَجْرِ الْأَجِيرِ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ الْأَجِيرُ دَعَاهُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ فَرَضِيَ بِالرَّجُلِ فَإِنْ فَعَلَ فَحَقُّهُ حَيْثُ وَضَعَهُ وَ رَضِيَ بِهِ.
“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of one who hires a man who because of not being able to trust each other, places the wages in the hand of another man who dies without any replacement and the wages vanish. He (the Imam) said, ‘The person hiring is responsible for the wages of the worker until he pay
كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الْمَرْأَةُ تَمُوتُ فَيَدَّعِي أَبُوهَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ أَعَارَهَا بَعْضَ مَا كَانَ عِنْدَهَا مِنْ مَتَاعٍ وَ خَدَمٍ أَ تُقْبَلُ دَعْوَاهُ بِلَا بَيِّنَةٍ أَمْ لَا تُقْبَلُ دَعْوَاهُ إِلَّا بِبَيِّنَةٍ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ يَجُوزُ بِلَا بَيِّنَةٍ قَالَ وَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ إِنِ ادَّعَى زَوْجُ الْمَرْأَةِ الْمَيِّتَةِ أَوْ أَبُو زَوْجِهَا أَوْ أُمُّ زَوْجِهَا فِي مَتَاعِهَ
“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a woman dies and her father claims that she had borrowed from him certain things of household materials; if his claim is acceptable without testimony.’ He (the Imam) wrote to him, ‘It is permissible to accept his
اذْهَبُوا فَبِيعُوهُ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ ادْفَعُوا ثَمَنَهُ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ وَ لَا تُقِرُّوهُ عِنْدَهُ.
Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a taxpayer slave who had become a Muslim was brought before Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.). He (the Imam) issued a judgment that said, ‘You (people of the state) must sell him to a Muslim and pay his price to his owner and do not leave him with him.’”
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَحْكَامُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةٍ شَهَادَةٍ عَادِلَةٍ أَوْ يَمِينٍ قَاطِعَةٍ أَوْ سُنَّةٍ مَاضِيَةٍ مِنْ أَئِمَّةِ الْهُدَى[2].
“Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘The judicial laws of Muslims are based on three principles; Just witnesses or decisive oath or a tradition practiced by the Imam of guidance who have passed away.’”
اخْتَصَمَ رَجُلَانِ إِلَى دَاوُدَ ع فِي بَقَرَةٍ فَجَاءَ هَذَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ عَلَى أَنَّهَا لَهُ وَ جَاءَ هَذَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ عَلَى أَنَّهَا لَهُ قَالَ فَدَخَلَ دَاوُدُ ع الْمِحْرَابَ فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّهُ قَدْ أَعْيَانِي أَنْ أَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ فَكُنْ أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَحْكُمُ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ اخْرُجْ فَخُذِ الْبَقَرَةَ مِنْ الَّذِي فِي يَدِهِ فَادْفَعْهَا إِلَى الْآخَرِ وَ اضْرِبْ عُنُق
“Once two men brought their case before Dawud ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about a cow which both claimed to be his, and each one presented testimony. Dawud went to the temple and asked, ‘Lord, this case has tired me so You must decide.’ Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent him revelation that said, ‘Take away the thigh of t
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَبَّلَ رَجُلًا أَنْ يَحْفِرَ لَهُ بِئْراً عَشْرَ قَامَاتٍ بِعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ فَحَفَرَ لَهُ قَامَةً ثُمَّ عَجَزَ قَالَ يُقْسَمُ عَشَرَةٌ عَلَى خَمْسَةٍ وَ خَمْسِينَ جُزْءاً فَمَا أَصَابَ وَاحِداً فَهُوَ لِلْقَامَةِ الْأُولَى وَ الِاثْنَانِ لِلثَّانِيَةِ وَ الثَّلَاثَةُ لِلثَّالِثَةِ عَلَى هَذَا الْحِسَابِ إِلَى عَشَرَةٍ[1].
“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who hires a man to dig for him a well as deep as ten times the height of a man for ten dirham; but then he fails to do so because of weakness. He (the Imam) said, ’Ten must be divided into fifty-five of which one is for the first length, two for the second a
قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي رَجُلَيْنِ ادَّعَيَا بَغْلَةً فَأَقَامَ أَحَدُهُمَا عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ شَاهِدَيْنِ وَ الْآخَرُ خَمْسَةً فَقَضَى لِصَاحِبِ الشُّهُودِ الْخَمْسَةِ خَمْسَةَ أَسْهُمٍ وَ لِصَاحِبِ الشَّاهِدَيْنِ سَهْمَيْنِ[2].
23. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “This is about the case of two men who each had claimed a mule to be his mule. One of them presented two witnesses and the other one presented five witnesses. Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’mi