Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (15/439)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

The answer is: even before consummation. Thus, if he testifies for her after the marriage contract has been concluded, his testimony is not accepted. As for a woman to whom he is engaged, may he testify for her when she is not yet his wife? Perhaps the suspicion is even stronger, for he may testify for her in order that she may proceed with accepting the marriage. We say: even if this is a real possibility, we accept the testimony. Yes, if there are indications proving him untruthful, that is another matter. But merely being her suitor does not prevent the acceptance of his testimony for his fiancée, nor of her testimony for him.

If a divorced woman has completed her waiting period, then there is no doubt that his testimony for her is accepted, since there is no relationship between them. If she is still in her waiting period, then, if the divorce is revocable, her ruling is that of a wife, and his testimony for her is not accepted. If it is an irrevocable divorce, however, then the matter requires consideration. If one considers that she is observing a waiting period connected to him, one may say that she remains occupied with some of the matters related to marriage and retains a form of connection to the husband. But if one considers that she is irrevocably divorced, one may say that the relationship between them has been severed.

If the wife has died, is his testimony for her accepted? There is a possible suspicion on account of inheritance: if he testifies concerning property, he may be bringing benefit to himself or warding harm away from her.

His statement, “And their testimony against them is accepted,” means: against ascendants, descendants, and spouses. Thus, a husband’s testimony against his wife is accepted, as is a wife’s testimony against her husband. For example, if he testifies that his wife assaulted someone and destroyed his property, or the like, we say that this is permissible. But may he testify that she sold her property to someone? He may not, because a sale may be either in a person’s favor or against him: it is in his favor insofar as the buyer will demand the price from him, and against him insofar as the buyer will demand the goods from him.

الجواب: وإن كان قبل الدخول، فإذا شهد لها وقد عقد عليها فإنها لا تقبل، والمخطوبة هل يقبل أن يشهد لها وهي ليست زوجة؟ ربما تكون التهمة أقوى، فقد يشهد لها من أجل أن تمضي في القبول، نقول: ولو كان هذا أمراً واقعاً فإننا نقبله، نعم، لو وجدت قرائن تكذبه فهذا شيء آخر، لكن من حيث هو خاطب فإن ذلك لا يمنع قبول شهادته لمخطوبته ولا شهادتها له ـ أيضاً ـ. والمطلقة إن كانت قد انتهت عدتها فلا شك في قبول شهادته لها؛ لأنه لا علاقة بينه وبينها، وإن كانت في العدة فإن كانت رجعية فحكمها كالزوجة لا تقبل شهادته لها، وإن كانت بائناً فمحل نظر؛ لأنك إن نظرت إلى أنها معتدة له قلت: إنها مشتغلة ببعض متعلقات النكاح، ولها نوع صلة بالزوج، وإن قلت: إنها بائن قلت: انقطعت العلاقة بينهما. فإذا كانت الزوجة قد ماتت فهل تقبل شهادته لها؟ يوجد تهمة من جهة الإرث، إذا كان سيشهد بمال فإنه سيجرُّ إلى نفسه نفعاً، أو يدفع عنها ضرراً. قوله: «وتقبل عليهم» أي: على الأصول، والفروع، والزوجين، فتقبل شهادة الزوج على زوجته، والزوجة على زوجها، مثل أن يشهد على زوجته أنها اعْتَدَتْ على فلان وأتلفت ماله، أو ما أشبه ذلك، نقول: هذا جائز؛ وهل يشهد أنها باعت ملكها على فلان؟ لا يشهد؛ لأن البيع قد يكون للإنسان، وقد يكون عليه؛ فهو له حيث سيطالب المشتري بالثمن، وعليه حيث سيطالبه المشتري بالسلعة.