Hiding the Testimony

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said this. ‘One may hide a testimony, or testify to invalidate the case of the murder of a Muslim, or to turn away from its rightful course the assets of a Muslim. He on the Day of Judgment will be brought with darkness before him as far as eyes can see, with bruises on his face whom all creatures will know by his name and genealogy. One who presents the right testimony to revive a right of a Muslim, he on the Day of Judgment will be brought with light before him as far as the eye can see, and all creatures will know him by his name and genealogy.’ Abu Ja‘far, Alayhi al-Salam, then said, ‘Have you not seen that Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, says, ‘. . . you must present the testimony for Allah.’ (65:2)”

“About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . one who hides a testimony his heart is sinful,’ (2: 283) abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘It is after having witnessed a case.’”

“My father wrote to me in his letter and I asked abu al-Hassan, Alayhi al-Salam, about testimony for them. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must present a testimony for Allah, even if it is against your own soul or parents or relatives between you and them, but if you fear injustice to your brother then do not do so.’” Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Nahdiy from ’Isma‘il ibn Mehran a similar Hadith.