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672—One of the impediments to testimony is a circumstance that gives rise to suspicion of bias, such as parents testifying in favor of their children or vice versa, one spouse testifying in favor of the other, or an enemy testifying against his enemy1.
- As stated in the hadith: “The testimony of a treacherous man or woman is inadmissible, as is that of anyone who harbors rancor2 against his brother. Nor is the testimony of a household’s dependent servant3 admissible in favor of that household.” Narrated by Ahmad and Abū Dāwūd4.
1. In *al-Mukhtārāt al-Jaliyya* (p. 127), the Shaykh favored the view that whenever the upright character of any of the persons mentioned is established, whether outwardly or inwardly, their testimony should not be rejected on these grounds. Certain knowledge that they are acceptable witnesses cannot be outweighed by mere conjecture arising from suspicion, which is particularly weak in the case of such persons. If, however, their upright character has not been established both outwardly and inwardly, and they merely appear upright, then the presence of any of the aforementioned grounds lends strength to the view of those who reject their testimony. People vary in this regard. End quote.
2. *Al-ghimr* means rancor and enmity.
3. *Al-qāniʿ* is a servant devoted exclusively to serving a household and attending to its needs because of the authority its members exercise over him and the benefits he receives from them. The suspicion that he might favor his patrons therefore remains.
4. It was recorded by Abd al-Razzāq (15364), Ahmad (2/181), Abū Dāwūd (3600, 3601), Ibn Mājah (2366), and al-Dāraqutnī (144). Al-Hāfiz stated in *al-Talkhīs* (4/218): “Its chain of transmission is strong.”
٦٧٢- ومن موانع الشهادة: مَظِنَّةُ التهمة، كشهادة الوالدين لأولادهم، وبالعكس، وأحد الزوجين للآخر، والعدو على عدوه١،
* كما في الحديث: "لا تجوز شهادة خائن ولا خائنة، ولا ذي غمر٢ على أخيه، ولا تجوز شهادة القانع٣ لأهل البيت" رواه أحمد وأبو داود٤.
١ رجح الشيخ في "المختارات الجلية ص ١٢٧": أنه متى تحققت عدالة واحد من المذكورين ظاهرا أو باطنا لم ترد بهذه الأسباب؛ لأن العلم اليقيني بأنهم مقبول الشهادة لا يعارضه الظن الذي هو التهمة، بل هو ضعيف في مثل حالهم، وإن كانت لم تتحقق عدالتهم ظاهراًَ وباطناً، بل ظاهرهم العدالة فقط، ووجود بعض الأسباب المذكورة قوى قول من رد شهادتهم، والناس في هذا درجات متفاوتة. أهـ.
٢ الغمر: الحقد والشحناء.
٣ القانع: هو الخادم المنقطع لخدمة أهل البيت وقضاء حوائجهم، لما لهم عليه من السلطة، ولما له عندهم من المنفعة، فالتهمة بمواليهم قائمة.
٤ أخرجه عبد الرزاق "١٥٣٦٤"، وأحمد "١٨١/٢"، وأبو داود "٣٦٠٠، ٣٦٠١"، وابن ماجه "٢٣٦٦"، والدارقطني "١٤٤"، قال الحافظ في التلخيص "٢١٨/٤": وسنده قوي.