Who May Testify

These pages are about the witness, not the case. They cover who may testify, what disqualifies a witness, and the duty to give testimony or to withhold it. Hearsay, a witness who retracts, how many witnesses a claim needs, and testimony before a judge are covered here. False witness as a sin, and its expiation, belong under honesty and promises. The witnesses a specific contract requires stay with that contract. Settling the dispute itself belongs with disputes and arbitration. Every answer here is a sourced summary of a fatwa published on Ftawy, with the full ruling one tap away.

76 questions

What is the ruling on equating the testimony of a woman with that of a man?
Is one who witnessed adultery and denied it in order to conceal the perpetrators sinful?
Is the testimony of a raped woman against her rapist accepted in a Sharia court, given that she has no proof other than her account of what happened and his threat to kill her, and his threat to kill her children and husband if she disclosed the matter?
Can testimony be refused in cases of assault and conflict, knowing that there are no other witnesses and realizing the worldly and otherworldly punishment that would result from such refusal?
Is it permissible to testify to a divorce that occurred in 1990 to prove it to a governmental body, given that the remarriage of the divorced woman after that date is unknown?
What is the ruling on an alcohol drinker's testimony, meaning, can he be a witness?
Is it permissible to accept the testimony of a single woman, alone, in matters of divorce, marriage, or a will, if she is upright and not prone to forgetfulness, and did Ibn Taymiyyah say this, and why is it not analogous to cutting off the hand of a thief or stoning an adulterer?
What is meant by conditional justice in the witnesses for the execution of hudud punishments, and how can it be verified in the current era?
Is it permissible for women to testify individually in cases of zina (adultery/fornication), as Ibn Hazm stated, and what is the strong evidence for the majority opinion?
Is it permissible for a non-Muslim to testify against a Muslim in personal status matters, and is it permissible for him to be appointed as a legal guardian over a Muslim child, despite the presence of righteous relatives of the child?
Will I be sinful for concealing information from the judge for fear of accountability and imprisonment, and what is the expiation for that?
Is there any basis in religion for not accepting the testimony of elementary school teachers in court, as is common among the general public?
What is the meaning of Mu'awiyah's acceptance of Umm Salamah's testimony alone in establishing the right of two men against another, and can such a right be established by the testimony of one woman without an oath, and what is the scholars' opinion on this?
Is the testimony of a son for his mother accepted if he dies after giving the testimony and before the case is concluded, while his mother is still alive?
Is concealing testimony considered a sin, in the event that there are witnesses to an assault, knowing that the testimony might lead to a greater tribulation, and what is the way to be rid of this testimony, and is lying in it considered a sin?
Why is a woman's testimony not accepted in cases of Zina (unlawful sexual intercourse)?
Is it true that a person without a mustache cannot have his testimony accepted, and was this narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) or from any of the scholars and jurists? And what is the proof for that if it is true?
What is the ruling on concealing testimony, with evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah?
Is it obligatory for me to testify in a stabbing incident, knowing that the victim is a bad person and known for his ill-manners, and the stabbing occurred because he stole a shoe?
Does not the non-acceptance of a woman's testimony in cases of Hudud lead to chaos and injustice in society, especially if she witnesses a murder or theft?
Is it permissible to volunteer to testify in order to deny a charge of premeditated murder against people whose innocence one is certain of, especially since the accusers have admitted the invalidity of the accusation?
What are the Sharia requirements that must be met by the four witnesses to file a lawsuit in an Islamic court, and what is their purpose?
Is the testimony of children accepted if their father asks them to testify to a discussion that took place between him and another person in their presence, knowing that the discussion has no relation to money?
As-salamu alaykum Why is a woman's testimony half of a man's testimony?

Who May Testify

What is the ruling on equating the testimony of a woman with that of a man?

Is one who witnessed adultery and denied it in order to conceal the perpetrators sinful?

Is the testimony of a raped woman against her rapist accepted in a Sharia court, given that she has no proof other than her account of what happened and his threat to kill her, and his threat to kill her children and husband if she disclosed the matter?

Can testimony be refused in cases of assault and conflict, knowing that there are no other witnesses and realizing the worldly and otherworldly punishment that would result from such refusal?

Is it permissible to testify to a divorce that occurred in 1990 to prove it to a governmental body, given that the remarriage of the divorced woman after that date is unknown?

What is the ruling on an alcohol drinker's testimony, meaning, can he be a witness?

Is it permissible to accept the testimony of a single woman, alone, in matters of divorce, marriage, or a will, if she is upright and not prone to forgetfulness, and did Ibn Taymiyyah say this, and why is it not analogous to cutting off the hand of a thief or stoning an adulterer?

What is meant by conditional justice in the witnesses for the execution of hudud punishments, and how can it be verified in the current era?

Is it permissible for women to testify individually in cases of zina (adultery/fornication), as Ibn Hazm stated, and what is the strong evidence for the majority opinion?

Is it permissible for a non-Muslim to testify against a Muslim in personal status matters, and is it permissible for him to be appointed as a legal guardian over a Muslim child, despite the presence of righteous relatives of the child?

Will I be sinful for concealing information from the judge for fear of accountability and imprisonment, and what is the expiation for that?

Is there any basis in religion for not accepting the testimony of elementary school teachers in court, as is common among the general public?

What is the meaning of Mu'awiyah's acceptance of Umm Salamah's testimony alone in establishing the right of two men against another, and can such a right be established by the testimony of one woman without an oath, and what is the scholars' opinion on this?

Is the testimony of a son for his mother accepted if he dies after giving the testimony and before the case is concluded, while his mother is still alive?

Is concealing testimony considered a sin, in the event that there are witnesses to an assault, knowing that the testimony might lead to a greater tribulation, and what is the way to be rid of this testimony, and is lying in it considered a sin?

Why is a woman's testimony not accepted in cases of Zina (unlawful sexual intercourse)?

Is it true that a person without a mustache cannot have his testimony accepted, and was this narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) or from any of the scholars and jurists? And what is the proof for that if it is true?

What is the ruling on concealing testimony, with evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah?

Is it obligatory for me to testify in a stabbing incident, knowing that the victim is a bad person and known for his ill-manners, and the stabbing occurred because he stole a shoe?

Does not the non-acceptance of a woman's testimony in cases of Hudud lead to chaos and injustice in society, especially if she witnesses a murder or theft?

Is it permissible to volunteer to testify in order to deny a charge of premeditated murder against people whose innocence one is certain of, especially since the accusers have admitted the invalidity of the accusation?

What are the Sharia requirements that must be met by the four witnesses to file a lawsuit in an Islamic court, and what is their purpose?

Is the testimony of children accepted if their father asks them to testify to a discussion that took place between him and another person in their presence, knowing that the discussion has no relation to money?

As-salamu alaykum Why is a woman's testimony half of a man's testimony?