Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (15/451)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

The wisdom behind this is that dealings involving property are among the most frequent of all transactions. If transactions involving marriage were compared to commercial transactions, sales would undoubtedly be far more numerous. Thus, out of Allah’s wisdom and mercy, He has broadened the forms of evidence accepted in financial matters, because people are so extensively involved in them.

His words, “two men, or one man and two women, or one man together with the claimant’s oath”: these are three types of evidence: two men; one man and two women; or one man together with the claimant’s oath. The proof is Allah’s saying:

“And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men, then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses.” [al-Baqarah 2:282]

As for one man together with the claimant’s oath, this is established by the hadith of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, ruled on the basis of one witness and the claimant’s oath.” (1) The Messenger’s ruling, peace and blessings be upon him, is itself both a ruling and evidence, for he was a legislator, peace and blessings be upon him.

Should the witness be presented first, or should the oath be taken first? The witness is presented first. Thus, we say to the claimant: “Produce the witness.” Once he has testified, we say: “Swear an oath.” If he were to swear before producing the witness, it would not suffice. This is because, when he produces one witness, the required number of witnesses has not been completed; however, the claimant’s side is strengthened by producing that witness. Once his side is strengthened, the oath belongs to his side, because an oath is only prescribed for the side of the stronger of the two litigants. This is why it was previously mentioned regarding qasāmah that the oath is on the claimant’s side, because he possesses an evident circumstantial indication of his truthfulness. These, then, are three types of evidence, all of which establish a claim concerning property.

(1) Its source has been cited previously on p. 336.

والحكمة أن التعامل بها أكثر المعاملات، ولو نسبت المعاملات في الأنكحة إلى المعاملات في البيوع لوجدت البيوع أكثر بلا شك، ولهذا من حكمة الله ﷿ ورحمته أنه وسع البيِّنة في الأموال لكثرة تلبس الناس بها. قوله: «رجلان أو رجل وامرأتان أو رجل ويمين المدعي» ثلاثة أنواع من البينات: رجلان، أو رجل وامرأتان، أو رجل ويمين المدعي، والدليل قوله تعالى: ﴿وَاسْتَشْهِدُوا شَهِيدَيْنِ مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيْنِ فَرَجُلٌ وَامْرَأَتَانِ مِمَنْ تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَاءِ﴾ [البقرة: ٢٨٢] أما رجل ويمين المدعي فلحديث ابن عباس ﵄ قال: قضى النبي ﷺ بالشاهد ويمين المدعي (١)، وحكم الرسول ﵊ حكم ودليل؛ لأنه مشرِّع ﵊. وهل يقدم الشاهد أو تقدم اليمين؟ يقدم الشاهد فنقول للمدعي: أحضر الشاهد، فإذا شهد نقول: احلف، فلو حلف قبل إحضار الشاهد لم يجزئ، وإنما كان الأمر كذلك؛ لأنه إذا أتى بشاهد فنصاب الشهادة لم يتم، لكن ترجح جانب المدعي بإحضار هذا الشاهد، ولما ترجح جانبه صارت اليمين في جانبه؛ لأن اليمين إنما تشرع في جانب أقوى المتداعيين، ولهذا سبق في القسامة أن اليمين تكون في جانب المدعي؛ لأن معه قرينة ظاهرة تدل على صدقه، فهذه ثلاثة أنواع من البينات كلها تثبت الدعوى في المال.

(١) سبق تخريجه ص (٣٣٦).