And in the two Sahīhs, Ibn ‘Abbās is reported to have said:

“Men whom I trusted—and the most trusted of them in my eyes was ‘Umar—testified before me that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prohibited prayer after the dawn prayer until the sun rises, and after the afternoon prayer until the sun sets.”

These men told him that the Prophet had prohibited this; they did not say, “We testify before you.” The Companions did not invariably use this wording when relating hadith, although one of them might sometimes use it. Another example is their statement concerning Mā‘iz: “When he had testified against himself four times, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had him stoned.” What he said was a confession; he did not say, “I testify.” Another example is the saying of Allah Most High:

“Stand firmly for justice as witnesses for Allah, even against yourselves.”

A person’s testimony against himself is his admission, and the scholars agree that this does not require the word “testimony.” They differed only over whether testimony before a judge requires the words “I testify.” There are two views within Ahmad’s school. Ahmad’s statements indicate that this is not required, which is also Mālik’s position. The second view is that it is required, as is reported to be the position of Abū Hanīfah and al-Shāfi‘ī.

Our concern here, however, is the verse. Testimony thus comprises two levels: the first is the witness’s speaking, stating, and mentioning what he has inwardly borne witness to; the second is his informing others and making known to them what he has borne witness to. Thus, whoever says: