Book of Testimony
Bearing and delivering testimony is a personal obligation upon anyone who is able to do so (1), provided it entails no harm to his body, reputation, property, or family; therefore, concealing it is forbidden.
A witness may testify only to what he has learned through sight, hearing, or—where direct knowledge is usually unattainable—through widespread notoriety, as in the case of lineage, death, marriage, unrestricted ownership, a charitable endowment, and the like.
Whoever testifies about breastfeeding or similar matters must describe it in detail; and whoever testifies to adultery must specify the place, the time, the woman involved, and comparable particulars.
Section
For a person’s testimony to be accepted the following conditions must be met:
- Puberty: the testimony of a child is never admissible.
- Sound intellect: the testimony of a madman and the like is rejected, except for one who experiences intermittent seizures—if he testifies during a lucid interval, it is accepted.
- Islam: a non-Muslim’s testimony is inadmissible except in one special case concerning a bequest.
- Speech: the testimony of a mute person is inadmissible, even if his signs can be understood, unless he renders it in writing.