and breastfeeding, physical defects hidden beneath clothing such as vaginal occlusion (ratq), clitoral hypertrophy (qaran), virginity, non-virginity, vitiligo, and the completion of the waiting period ('iddah). According to Abu Hanifa: Their testimony is not accepted when they are alone regarding breastfeeding; because it is possible for the woman's male mahram (unmarriageable) relatives to have access to it, so it is not established by women alone, like marriage. Our argument is what was narrated by 'Uqba ibn al-Harith, who said: I married Umm Yahya bint Abi Ihab, then a black slave woman came and said: "I have breastfed both of you." I went to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and mentioned that to him, but he turned away from me. Then I went to him and said: "O Messenger of Allah, she is a liar." He said: "How, when she has claimed that?" This is agreed upon. And also because it is a testimony regarding an 'awra (intimate matter) in which women have access, so the testimony of women is accepted in it, like childbirth; it differs from the contract, as that is not an 'awra. It was also narrated from Abu Hanifa that the testimony of women alone is not accepted regarding the vocalization of a newborn (istihlal); because it occurs after childbirth. His two companions and the majority of scholars disagreed with him; because it occurs at the time of birth, making the presence of men difficult, so it resembles the birth itself. It has been narrated from 'Ali (may Allah have mercy on him) that he permitted the testimony of the midwife alone regarding the istihlal. This was narrated by Imam Ahmad and Sa'id ibn Mansur, except that it is from the hadith of Jabir al-Ju'fi. It was also permitted by Shurayh, al-Hasan, al-Harith al-'Ukli, and Hammad.

Section: Once this is established, in every situation where we have said the testimony of women alone is accepted, the testimony of a single woman is accepted. Tawus said: The testimony of a woman is valid regarding breastfeeding, even if she is black. There is another narration from Ahmad: Only two women are accepted in it. This is the view of al-Hakam, Ibn Abi Layla, and Ibn Shubruma. Malik and al-Thawri also adopted this view, because every category for which the truth is established, two are sufficient, as with men, and because men are more complete in intellect than them, and only two are accepted from them. 'Uthman al-Batti said: Three are sufficient; because in every situation where women are accepted, the number was three, just as if a man were with them. Abu Hanifa said: The testimony of a single woman is accepted regarding the birth of wives, but not regarding the birth of a divorced woman. 'Ata, al-Sha'bi, Qatada, al-Shafi'i, and Abu Thawr said: Only four are accepted in it; because it is a testimony for which freedom is a condition, so a single [woman] is not accepted in it, like other testimonies, and because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The testimony of two women is equivalent to the testimony of one man." Our argument is what was narrated by 'Uqba ibn al-Harith, that he said: "I married Umm Yahya bint Abi Ihab, then a black slave woman came and said: 'I have breastfed both of you.' So I went to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and mentioned that to him, but he turned away from me. Then I mentioned it to him again, and he said: 'How, when she has claimed that!'" It is agreed upon. Hudhayfa narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) permitted the testimony of the midwife. The jurists mentioned this in their books. Abu al-Khattab narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The testimony of a single woman is sufficient in breastfeeding." And because it is a matter that is established by the word of women alone, so a [specific] number is not a condition for it, like narration and religious reports. As for what al-Shafi'i mentioned regarding the condition of freedom, it is not accepted, and the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "The testimony of two women is equivalent to the testimony of one man" is in the situation where she testifies with a man.