His statement, “and the like”: such as women’s defects—qarn (an obstruction in the vagina), ʿafal (a fleshy vaginal growth), fistula, irregular bleeding, and other matters of which generally only women are aware.

His statement, “the testimony of one upright woman is accepted concerning it”: that is, concerning these matters of which generally only women are aware.

His statement, “the testimony of one upright woman”: Why did he not say “upright female”? Because ʿadl (uprightness) is a verbal noun, and verbal nouns are not given a feminine form. Ibn Malik—may Allah have mercy on him—said:

They often use a verbal noun as an adjective;
So they keep it singular and masculine.

Likewise, if a wound, beating, or assault occurs at a wedding gathering attended only by women, the testimony of one woman is accepted concerning it.

The evidence for this ruling is the account of the woman who testified that she had breastfed the woman and her husband. The Prophet ﷺ ordered them to separate and said, “How can you remain together when it has been said?” (1)

His statement, “and in this regard a man is like a woman”: If a man testifies concerning these matters, his testimony is accepted all the more readily, because a man’s testimony is stronger than a woman’s testimony. A concession was made for the testimony of a woman only because men generally do not witness such matters. Thus, if it is supposed that a man did witness one of them, his testimony is accepted.

The author then mentioned three cases: one in which the ruling is apportioned on the basis of testimony; a second in which it is apportioned on the basis of both acknowledgment and testimony; and a third in which it is not apportioned. He said: