The Witnesses who are Rejected

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the kind of witnesses whose testimony is rejected. He (the Imam) said, ‘Of such people are a pessimist and an accused.’ I then asked, ‘What about a sinful and a treacherous one?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Such ones are included in “pessimist”.”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the witnesses whose testimony is rejected. He (the Imam) said, ‘Of such people are a pessimist and an antagonist.’ I then asked, ‘What about a sinful and a treacherous one?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Such ones are included in “pessimist”.”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the witnesses whose testimonies are rejected. He (the Imam) said, ‘He (the Imam) said, ‘Of such people are a pessimist, an accused and an antagonist.’ I then asked, ‘What about a sinful and a treacherous one?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Such ones are included in “pessimist”.”’

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the testimony of one who is born out of wedlock if it is acceptable. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not acceptable.’ I then said that al-Hakam ibn al-‘Utaybah considers it acceptable. He (the Imam) said, ‘O Lord, do not forgive his sin. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has not said to al-Hakam ibn ‘Utaybah, ‘. . . it is a reminder for you and your people.’ ( 43 : 44 )”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I do not accept the testimony of a sinful man except against his own-self.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The testimony of one born out of wedlock is not admissible.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), would not accept the testimony of persons of offensive manners and those humiliated by law.”

“I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘If four men among whom one is born out of wedlock testify before me against a man for fornication I will execute penalty on them all because his testimony is not acceptable and he cannot lead the people in Salat (prayer).’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Testimony of the following people is not acceptable. (Of such people is) one who plays dice, (backgammon), or the game played with fourteen pieces of tokens and a friend (player) of Shahayn (the two kings) which means chess who says, ‘No, by Allah and yes by Allah. His king by Allah is dead and his king is killed but it is not dead or killed.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘The testimony of one who goes before al-Hujjaj (travelers for al-Hajj) as a precursor, is not acceptable because he kills his stumper, depletes his supplies, tires himself and treats his Salat (prayer) lightly.’ I then asked about the one who provides transportation for hire, camel man and boat operators. He (the Imam) said, ‘They are not bad and their testimony is acceptable if they are virtuous people.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Performing Salat (prayer) behind one who asks payment for saying Adhan (call for Salat (prayer)) and Salat (prayer) and his testimony are not admissible.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), would not allow the testimony of one who moves before al-Hujjaj (pilgrims to Makkah) as a precursor.”

“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, rejected the testimony of a beggar who extends his hand for help. It is because he does not believe in testimony in the sense that if one gives to him something he is happy and if he does not give anything he becomes angry.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a beggar man who extends his hand for begging, if his testimony is acceptable. He (the Imam) said, ‘My father would not accept his testimony if he extended his hand for begging.’”