When is only the testimony of men or women accepted, when is the testimony of one preferred over the other, and when are they equal, with mention of the madhhabs?

Testimonies are divided into three types: 1. That which requires four male witnesses, with no women among them: This is the punishment for adultery (zina). 2. That which requires two male witnesses, with no women among them: This applies to all other hudud (punishments) besides adultery, and qisas (retaliation), a point agreed upon by the four imams. 3. That which accepts the testimony of one man and two women: The majority of scholars restrict this to financial matters and those that have a financial implication, whereas the Hanafis permit it for financial matters and others.

There are also situations that are often only known by women, in which case their testimony is accepted, even if only one of them testifies. Examples include women's testimony regarding childbirth, the crying of a newborn (istehlal), breastfeeding, defects under clothing, and the expiry of the waiting period (iddah). In cases where women's testimony alone is accepted, men's testimony is also accepted.