BOOK OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT (IQRAR) OF RIGHTS

Acknowledgment (Iqrar): It is confession. Its source is the Book, the Sunnah, and the Consensus (Ijma'). As for the Book, it is the saying of the Almighty: "And when Allah took the covenant of the prophets" up to His saying: "He said, 'Have you acknowledged, and have you taken upon that My burden?' They said, 'We have acknowledged'" (3:81). And the Almighty said: "And others have acknowledged their sins" (9:102). And the Almighty said: "Am I not your Lord? They said, 'Yes'" (7:172), in many verses similar to this. As for the Sunnah, it is what has been narrated that Ma'iz confessed to adultery, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, stoned him. Likewise with the Ghamidiyyah woman, as he said: "And go, O Unays, to the wife of this man; if she confesses, then stone her" (4). As for the Consensus (Ijma'), the Imams (5) have reached a consensus on the validity of acknowledgment. Furthermore, acknowledgment is a report of such a nature that it negates suspicion and doubt, for a rational person does not lie against himself in a way that harms him. For this reason, it is more emphatic than testimony; for if the defendant acknowledges, testimony against him is not heard, but it is only heard if he denies it. If the claimant denies a piece of evidence, it is not heard, but if he denies the acknowledger and then confirms him, it is heard.

Section: Acknowledgment is only valid from a sane, voluntary person. As for the child, the insane, the pleuritic (6), the sleeper, and the one who has fainted, their acknowledgment is not valid. We know of no disagreement regarding this.