falsely, just as he condemned them for betraying trusts and failing to fulfil their commitments. These are [among] (1) the signs of hypocrisy that we mentioned in connection with his saying:

“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks his promise; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays that trust.”

Both al-Bukhārī and Muslim reported it in their Sahīh collections (2).

As for truthful testimony, when a witness gives it for someone whom he knows needs it, without that person having asked him, he has upheld justice and discharged his duty before being asked. He is better than someone who does so only upon request. This is like returning something held in trust to its owner before being asked to return it, when the owner needs it. This is better than obliging the owner to endure the humiliation of asking. This is the more evident of the two interpretations.

This resembles the jurists’ disagreement concerning a litigant who brings a claim without asking the judge to question the defendant: should the judge ask the defendant to respond? The correct view is that he should ask him to respond (3), without requiring a request from the claimant, because the circumstances make such a request unnecessary.

Thus, the first hadith says: “Is there anyone among you who has seen the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace?” Then he said: “Is there anyone among you [who has seen] (4) someone who kept company with the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace?” This indicates that the one who saw him is the Companion. Likewise, when asking (5) about the other generations, he says: “Is there anyone among you who has seen someone who kept company with [someone who kept company with the Messenger of Allah?] (6)” Here, “one who kept company with” is understood to mean one who saw him.