[6959] Ahmad ibn ‘Uthman ibn Hakim informed us in what he wrote to me, Ahmad ibn Mufaddal narrated to us, Asbat narrated to us from al-Suddi regarding His saying: "then they shall swear by Allah: 'Our testimony is truer than their testimony,'" he said: A swearing by Allah: "Our testimony—that they are two traitors, suspected in their religion, and challenged—is truer than their testimony regarding what they testified to, and we have not transgressed."

[6960] I read to Muhammad ibn al-Fadl, Muhammad ibn ‘Ali narrated to us, Muhammad ibn Muzahim narrated to us from Bukayr ibn Ma‘ruf, from Muqatil ibn Hayyan, regarding His saying: "then they shall swear by Allah: 'Our testimony is truer than their testimony,'" he says: They shall swear by Allah that the wealth of our companion was such and such, and that what we seek from the two men of the Dariy family is a truth.

His saying, the Exalted: "and we have not transgressed, indeed, then we would be of the wrongdoers"

[6961] And by this chain from Muqatil ibn Hayyan: "and we have not transgressed, indeed, then we would be of the wrongdoers," this is the statement of the two witnesses, the heirs of the deceased, when the betrayal of the two men of the Dariy family was discovered.

His saying, the Exalted: "That is more likely that they will testify truly"

[6962] Muhammad ibn Yahya narrated to us, al-‘Abbas ibn al-Walid narrated to us, Yazid ibn Zuray‘ narrated to us, Sa‘id narrated to us from Qatada regarding His saying: "That is more likely that they will testify truly," he says: That is more worthy that they will be truthful in their testimony.

[6963] I read to Muhammad ibn al-Fadl, Muhammad ibn ‘Ali narrated to us, Muhammad ibn Muzahim narrated to us from Bukayr ibn Ma‘ruf, from Muqatil ibn Hayyan, regarding His saying: "That is more likely that they will testify truly," meaning the two men of the Dariy family.

[6964] Muhammad ibn ‘Uthman ibn Hakim informed us in what he wrote to me, Ahmad ibn al-Fadl narrated to us, Asbat narrated to us from al-Suddi regarding His saying: "That is more likely that they will testify truly," he said: The Imam said to them before the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Swear that if you two have concealed or betrayed, I will expose you among your people, your testimony will not be accepted, and I will punish you." They became afraid. He said to them that: "That is more likely that they will testify truly."

His saying, the Exalted: "or else they fear that oaths might be taken after their oaths"

[6965] Muhammad ibn Sa‘d al-‘Awfi informed us in what he wrote to me, my father narrated to me, my paternal uncle narrated to us,