The Witness for the Will

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Blessed, most High, ‘O believing people there must be two just (Muslim) witnesses when anyone of you is about to die or from other people.’ (5:106) I asked, ‘What is the meaning of ‘(there must be) two from other people?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It means two non-Muslims.’ I then asked about ‘two just ones from among yourselves’, he (the Imam) said, ‘it means two Muslims.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if it is permissible for a person of the religion to appoint a witness who is not of the people of his religion. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible when witness from the people of his own religion is no available; destroying anyone’s right is not suitable.’”

“About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . and two people from others who are not of your people’ abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘This applies when he is in a place where Muslims are not available, then asking a non-Muslim to bear witness to a will is permissible.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if a woman’s bearing witness to the will of a man when no man is available is accepted. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is effective for one-fourth of what is willed according to her testimony.’”

“In the case of a will for which there is no witness except a woman, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), accepted it (such witness) for one-fourth of the will according to her testimony.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘O believing people there must be two just (Muslim) witnesses when anyone of you is about to die or from other people.’ (5:106) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said that in this verse, “‘The two from you”, means two Muslims and “the two from others”, means the people of the book. If two people from the followers of the bible are not found then two Zoroastrians can bear witness. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, established a Sunnah about Zoroastrians like that for the people of the book in paying al-Jizyah (taxes). Thus, if one dies in loneliness in a strange land and cannot find two Muslims, he can appoint two men from the people of the book who are then kept in custody after Salat (prayer). They will take an oath on Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, saying that they do not sell their oath in exchange for a small price, even in favor of their relatives, that they do not hide the testimony for the sake of Allah; in so doing they will be committing sins.’ He (the Imam) said, ’This applies only when the heirs of the deceased doubt their testimony and it is found out that they have testified falsely. The heir cannot invalidate their testimony without presenting two witnesses who stand in place of the first two witnesses and take the oath on Allah that their testimony is more accurate than the testimony of the first two witnesses; if we transgress, we will be unjust. If this happens then the testimony of the first two becomes invalid and the testimony of the two later witnesses is admitted as valid. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, “This will help preserve a proper testimony. The witnesses will be afraid of the rejection of their own testimony by a second pair of witnesses. Have fear of Allah and listen (properly). Allah does not guide the evil doing people.” (5:108)”’

“Tamim al-Dariy, ibn Baydiy and ibn Mariya once left for a journey. Tamim al-Dariy was a Muslim but ibn Baydiy and ibn Mariya were Christians and they were with Tamim al-Dariy who had certain assets and utensils, which were decorated with gold, and a necklace that he took for the Arab markets for sale. Tamim al-Dariy became ill severely and the time of his death came. He gave whatever he had to ibn Baydiy and ibn Mariya and asked them to deliver it to his heirs. The two came to al-Madinah, delivered the other things but they had taken the utensils and the necklace. The heirs found the utensils missing; so the family of Tamim asked the two men, ’Did he (Tamim) remain ill for a long time and incurred a large amount of expenses?’ The two replied, ‘He remained ill only for few days.’ They then asked, ’Was anything stolen from him during his journey?’ The two replied, ‘No, nothing was stolen from him during his journey.’ They then asked, ‘Did he make any business deals that caused him losses?’ The two replied, ‘No, he did not make any such deals.’ They then said, ‘The most expensive things are missing like the utensils decorated with gold and gems and a necklace.’ The two said, ‘Whatever he gave to us we have given to you.’ They then took the two before the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and he (the Messenger of Allah) judged that the two must take an oath. The two took an oath and they were released but the utensils and necklace were seen with them. The heirs of Tamim went to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, saying, ‘O Messenger of Allah, our assets have been seen in the possession of ibn Baydiy and ibn Mariya.’ The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, waited to hear from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, a judgment in the case. Allah, most Blessed, most High, then revealed, ‘Believers, when death approaches any one of you, allow two just men from your own people (Muslims) or any two other men (people of the book), if incident of death befalls you on a journey, bear witness to the bequest. [Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, applied the testimony of the people of the book about the will when it is on a journey and Muslims are not found] If you have any doubts about their (others’) honesty, detain them and allow them take an oath after the prayer, each one of them saying, “I swear by Allah that my testimony is true. I am not selling the Truth for a paltry price even though the beneficiary would be one of my relatives. I do not hide the testimony which is the right of Allah, for then I will be one of the sinners.” (5:106)’ This is the testimony, which is sanctioned by the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. Tf their honesty is challenged, [they took false oath], two others from the relatives of the deceased should swear in the same way and testify to the bequest saying, “We swear by Allah that our testimony is the more accurate one. We do not transgress in the matter lest we become unjust ones.” (5:107)’ The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, commanded the heirs of Tamim al-Dariy to take an oath according to His command. They took an oath and the Messenger of Allah took the utensils and the necklace from ibn Baydiy and ibn Mariya and returned them to the heirs of Tamim al-Dariy. This is the least in presenting the testimony as it is for fear of another oath’s rejection of their oath thereafter.”