the testimony of one person, as with other rights. If it is not possible to obtain two, then one is sufficient; because this is a matter which not everyone is able to testify to, as it is a matter reserved for those with expertise among the people of that craft. Thus, the testimony of one person is considered sufficient in this regard, similar to [the assessment of] defects concealed under clothing, for which the statement of a single woman is accepted, so the acceptance of the statement of a single man is even more appropriate.
Section: Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: If he says, "Testify regarding one hundred dirhams and one hundred dirhams [and one hundred dirhams]," and he testifies regarding one hundred but not the other hundred, it is disliked, unless he says, "Bear witness for me regarding one hundred, and one hundred, and one hundred," narrating the whole thing to the judge as it was. Ahmad said: If he testifies regarding one thousand, and the judge does not issue a ruling except regarding one hundred or two hundred, and the owner of the right says to him, "I want you to testify for me regarding one hundred," he should not testify except regarding the thousand. The Qadi said: This is because it is upon the witness to convey the testimony exactly as he witnessed it. Allah the Almighty said: {That is more likely that they will give testimony according to its (proper) way} [Surah al-Ma'idah: 108]. And because if it were permissible for the witness to testify regarding only a portion of what he was called to witness, it would be permissible for the judge to issue a ruling regarding only a portion of what the witness testified to. Abu al-Khattab said: In my view, it is permissible to testify to that; because whoever testifies to one thousand has indeed testified to one hundred; so if he testifies to one hundred, he is not a liar in his testimony, so it is permissible, just as if he had lent him one hundred at one time, and nine hundred at another. But the first [opinion] is more correct due to what the Qadi mentioned, and because his testimony regarding one hundred might imply that this hundred is different from the one for which he originally testified, thus leading to obligating him for it twice.
Section: Ahmad said: If he testifies regarding one thousand dirhams and one hundred dinars, then he is entitled to the dirhams and dinars of that land. The Qadi said: Because since it was permissible for the absolute contract to be interpreted in that way, it was permissible for the testimony to be interpreted in the same way. And Allah knows best.
(2) Omitted from: M. (3) In A, B, M: "bear witness for me". (4) Omitted from: M. (5) Surah al-Ma'idah: 108. (6) In the original, A, B: "implied".
شهادةُ واحدٍ، كسائرِ الحُقوقِ، فإن لم يُقْدَرْ على اثْنَين، أجْزَأَ واحدٌ؛ لأنَّه ممَّا لا يُمْكِنُ كلَّ واحدٍ أن يشْهَدَ به؛ لأنَّه ممَّا يَخْتَصُّ به أهلُ الخبرةِ من أهلِ الصَّنْعةِ، فاجْتُزِئَ فيه بشهادةِ واحدٍ، بمَنْزلةِ العُيوبِ تحتَ الثِّيابِ، يُقْبَلُ قيها قولُ المرأةِ الواحدةِ، فقَبُولُ قولِ الرجلِ الواحد أوْلَى.
فصل: قال أحمدُ، رحمَه اللَّهُ، إذا قال: اشْهَدْ على مائةِ درهمٍ ومائةِ درهمٍ [ومائةِ درهمٍ] (٢). فشَهِدَ على مائةٍ دونَ مائةٍ، كُرِهَ، إِلَّا أن يقولَ: أشْهَدُوِنى (٣) على مائةٍ ومائة ومائةٍ (٤). يَحْكَيه كلَّه للحاكمِ كما كان. وقال أحمدُ: إذا شَهِدَ على ألفٍ، وكانَ الحاكم لا يحْكُمُ إِلَّا على مائةٍ ومائتين، فقال له صاحبُ الحقِّ: أُريدُ أن تَشْهَد لى على مائةٍ، لم يشْهَدْ إِلَّا بألْفٍ. قال القاضى: وذلك أَنَّ على الشَّاهدِ نَقْلَ الشَّهادةِ على ما شَهِدَ، قال اللَّهُ تعالى: {ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَنْ يَأْتُوا بِالشَّهَادَةِ عَلَى وَجْهِهَا} (٥). ولأنَّه لو ساغَ للشَّاهدِ أن يشْهَدَ ببعض ما أُشْهدَ عليه، لَساغَ للقاضى أن يَقْضِىَ ببعض ما شَهِدَ به الشَّاهِدُ. وقال أبو الخَطَّابِ: عندى يجوزُ أن يشْهَدَ بذلك؛ لأنَّ مَن شَهِدَ بأَلْفٍ، فقد شَهِدَ بمائةٍ، فإذا شَهِدَ بمائةٍ، لم يكُنْ كاذبًا فى شَهادتِه، فجازَ، كما لو كان قد أقْرضَه مائةً مَرَّة، وتِسْعَمائةٍ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى. والأَوَّلُ أصحُّ؛ لما ذكرَه القاضى، ولأنَّ شهادتَه بمائةٍ ربَّما أوْهَمَتْ (٦) أَنَّ هذه المائةَ غيرُ التى شهِدَتْ بأصْلِه، فيُؤدِّى إلى إيجابِها عليه مَرَّتَين.
فصل: قال أحمدُ: إذا شَهِدَ بألفِ درهمٍ ومائةِ دينارٍ، فله مِن دراهمِ ذلك البلدِ ودَنانيرِه. قال القاضى: لأنَّه لمَا جازَ أن يُحْمَلَ مُطَلقُ العَقْدِ على ذلك، جازَ أَنْ تُحْمَلَ الشهادةُ عليه. واللَّه أعلمُ.
(٢) سقط من: م.(٣) فى أ، ب، م: "أشهد ولى".(٤) سقط من: م.(٥) سورة المائدة ١٠٨.(٦) فى الأصل، أ، ب: "أوهم".
