481 - Abu Bakr al-Marrudhi informed us regarding this issue, saying: I said to Abu 'Abd Allah: 'May I testify that so-and-so is the wife of so-and-so, even though I did not witness the marriage?' He replied: 'Yes, if the matter is widely known (mustafid), then testify to it.' [I asked:] 'And may I testify that the house of Bakhtan belongs to Bakhtan, even though no one asked me to witness it?' He replied: 'This is a matter that has become widely known, so testify to it for him.' Abu Bakr said: And I think I heard him say: 'This is like one who says: "Indeed, Fatimah is the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace," yet I did not witness that she is the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.' As for Tariq ibn Shihab, he reports from Abu Bakr that he said to them: "You testify that our slain are in Paradise and your slain are in the Fire," and he was not satisfied—meaning Abu Bakr—until they testified." Abu 'Abd Allah said: "And this is the most established and authentic [narration] that has been reported regarding testimony."