Is it a condition for the witness of death to attend the funeral, or is it sufficient for him to know about the death? And is he who testifies without attending the funeral committing a sin, and is his testimony considered a false witness?
If news of the father's death becomes widespread, abundant, and consecutively reported by a group whose collusion on a lie is impossible, then testifying to his death is permissible through widespread report (istifadah) or hearsay (tasamu'), and this takes the place of direct observation in certain matters. The people of knowledge have unanimously agreed on the validity of testimony through widespread report in matters of lineage and birth. The jurists mentioned that death is among these matters, and they did not mention any disagreement concerning it.
The opinions of the jurists differed regarding the matters that can be proven by testimony through hearsay, but they agreed on its permissibility in matters of death, marriage, and lineage.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Original fatwa ID
- 194945
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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