5:107 Al-Maaida (The Table)

{ فَإِنْ عُثِرَ عَلَى أَنَّهُمَا } أي: الشاهدين { اسْتَحَقَّا إِثْمًا } بأن وجد من القرائن ما يدل على كذبهما وأنهما خانا { فآخران يقومان مقامهما من الذين استحق عليهم الأوليان } أي: فليقم رجلان من أولياء الميت، وليكونا من أقرب الأولياء إليه. { فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِاللَّهِ لَشَهَادَتُنَا أَحَقُّ مِنْ شَهَادَتِهِمَا } أي: أنهما كذبا، وغيرا وخانا. { وَمَا اعْتَدَيْنَا إِنَّا إِذًا لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ } أي: إن ظلمنا واعتدينا، وشهدنا بغير الحق.

اشتملت هذه الآية الكريمة على حكم عزيز، قيل إنه منسوخ، وقال آخرون وهم الأكثرون بل هو محكم، ومن ادعى نسخه فعليه البيان ""قاله ابن جرير رحمه اللّه تعالى""فقوله تعالى: {يا أيها الذين آمنوا شهادة بينكم إذا حضر أحدكم الموت حين الوصية اثنان} هذا هو الخبر لقوله شهادة بينكم فقيل: تقديره شهادة اثنين شهادة اثنين حذف المضاف وأقيم المضاف إليه مقامه. وقيل: دل الكلام على تقدير: أن يشهد اثنان، وقوله تعالى: {ذوا عدل} وصف الإثنين بأن يكونا عدلين، وقوله: {منكم} أي من المسلمين، قاله الجمهور. قال ابن عباس رضي اللّه عنه في قوله {ذوا عدل منكم}، قال: من المسليمن. قال ابن جرير: وقال آخرون عني ذلك {ذوا عدل منكم} أي من أهل الموصي، وقوله: {أو آخران من غيركم} قال ابن أبي حاتم، قال ابن عباس في قوله {أو آخران من غيركم} قال: من غير المسلمين، يعني أهل الكتاب ""وروي عن شريح وعكرمة وقتادة والسدي ومقاتل نحو ذلك""وعلى ما حكاه ابن جرير عن عكرمة وعبيدة في قوله: {منكم} أن المراد من قبيلة الموصي، يكون المراد ههنا {أو آخران من غيركم} أي من غير قبيلة الموصي، وقوله تعالى: {إن أنتم ضربتم في الأرض} أي سافرتم {فأصابتكم مصيبة الموت} وهذان شرطان لجواز استشهاد الذميين عند فقد المؤمنين أن يكون ذلك في سفر، وأن يكون في وصية، كما قال ابن جرير عن شريح: لا تجوزشهادة اليهود والنصارى إلا في سفر، ولا تجوز في سفر إلا في الوصية، وروي نحوه عن الإمام أحمد بن حنبل وخالفه الثلاثة، فقالوا: لا تجوز شهادة أهل الذمة على المسلمين، وأجازها أبو حنيفة فيما بين بعضهم بعضاً. وقال ابن جرير عن الزهري قال: مضت السنة أن لا تجوز شهادة الكافر في حضر ولا سفر، إنما هي في المسلمين. وقال ابن زيد: نزلت هذه الآية في رجل توفي وليس عنده أحد من أهل الإسلام، وذلك في أول الإسلام والأرض حرب، والناس كفار، وكان الناس يتوارثون بالوصية، ثم نسخت الوصية وفرضت الفرائض وعمل الناس بها، رواه ابن جرير. وفي هذا نظر واللّه أعلم. وقال ابن جرير: اختلف في قوله: {شهادة بينكم إذا حضر أحدكم الموت حين الوصية اثنان ذوا عدل منكم أو آخران من غيركم} هل المراد به أن يوصي إليهما أو يشهدهما؟ على قولين أحدهما: أن يوصي إليهما، سئل ابن مسعود رضي اللّه عنه عن هذه الآية قال: هذا رجل سافر ومعه مال فأدركه قدره، فإن وجد رجلين من المسلمين دفع إليهما تركته وأشهد عليهما عدلين من المسلمين، والقول الثاني: أنهما يكونا شاهدين، وهو ظاهر سياق الآية الكريمة، فإن لم يكن وصي ثالث معهما اجتمع فيهما الوصفان الوصاية والشهادة، كما في قصة تميم الداري وعدي بن بداء كما سيأتي ذكرها إن شاء اللّه وبه التوفيق. وقوله تعالى: {تحبسونهما من بعد الصلاة} قال ابن عباس: يعني صلاة العصر، وقال الزهري: يعني صلاة المسلمين، وقال السدي عن ابن عباس: يعني صلاة أهل دينهما، والمقصود أن يقام هذان الشاهدان بعد صلاة اجتمع الناس فيها بحضرتهم، {فيقسمان بالله} أي فيحلفنان باللّه {إن ارتبتم} أي إن ظهرت لكم منهما ريبة أنهما خانا أو غلَّا فيحلفان حينئذ باللّه {لا نشتري به} أي بأيماننا {ثمنا} أي لا نعتاض عنه بعوض قليل من الدنيا الفانية الزائلة {ولو كان ذا قربى} أي ولو كان المشهود عليه قريباً لنا لا نحابيه، {ولا نكتم شهادة اللّه} اأضافها إلى اللّه تشريفاً لها وتعظيماً لأمرها. {إنا إذاً لمن الآثمين} أي فعلنا شيئاً من ذلك من تحريف الشهادة أو تبديلها أو تغييرها أو كتمها بالكلية، ثم قال تعالى: {فإن عثر على أنهما استحقا إثماً} أي فإن اشتهر وظهر وتحقق من الشاهدين الوصيين أنهما خانا أو غلّا شيئاً من المال الموصى به إليهما وظهر عليهما بذلك {فآخران يقومان مقامهما من الذين استحق عيهم الأوليان} أي متى تحقق بالخبر الصحيح خيانتهما، فليقم اثنان من الورثة المستحقين للتركة وليكونا من أولى من يرث ذلك المال {فيقسمان باللّه لشهادتنا أحق من شهادتما}، أي لقولنا إنهما خانا أحق وأصح وأثبت من شهادتهما المتقدمة، {وما اعتدينا} أي فيما قلنا فيهما من الخيانة {إنا إذا لمن الظالمين} أي إن كنا قد كذبنا عليهما، وهذا التحليف للورثة والرجوع إلى قولهما والحالة هذه كما يحلف أولياء المقتول إذا ظهر لوث في جانب القاتل، فيقسم المتسحقون على القاتل فيدفع برمته إليهم كما هو مقرر في باب القسامة من الأحكام. وقد روي عن ابن عباس قال: خرج رجل من بني سهم مع تميم الداري، وعدي بن بداء فمات السهمي بأرض ليس بها مسلم، فلما قدمنا بتركته، فقدوا جاما من فضة مخوصاً بالذهب، فأحلفهما رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه وسلم، ووجدوا الجام بمكة، فقيل: اشتريناه من تميم وعدي، فقام رجلان من أولياء السهمي، فحلفا باللّه لشهادتنا أحق من شهادتهما، وإن الجام لصاحبهم، وفيهم نزلت: {يا أيها الذين آمنوا شهادة بينكم} ""أخرجه الترمذي وأبو داود، وقال الترمذي: حسن غريب""الآية، ومن الشواهد لصحة هذه القصة ما رواه أبو جعفر بن جرير عن الشعبي أن رجلاً من المسلمين حضرته الوفاة بدقوقا هذه، قال فحضرته الوفاة ولم يجد أحداً من المسلمين يشهده على وصيته، فأشهد رجلين من أهل الكتاب، قال: فقدما الكوفة، فأتيا الأشعري يعني أبا موسى الأشعري رضي اللّه عنه، فأخبراه، وقدما الكوفة بتركته ووصيته، فقال الأشعري: هذا أمر لم يكن بعد الذي كان على عهد رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه وسلم، وقال: فأحلفهما بعد العصر، باللّه ما خانا ولا كذبا ولا بدلا ولا كتما ولا غيّرا، وإنها لوصية الرجل وتركته، قال: فأمضى شهادتهما، فقوله: هذا أمر لم يكن بعد الذي كان على عهد رسول اللّه صلى الله عليه وسلم الظاهر - واللّه أعلم - أنه إنما أراد بذلك قصة تميم وعدي بن بداء، وقد ذكروا أن إسلام تميم بن أوس الداري رضي اللّه عنه كان سنة تسع من الهجرة، فعلى هذا يكون هذا الحكم متأخراً يحتاج مدعي نسخه إلى دليل فاصل في هذا المقام، واللّه أعلم. وقال السدي في الآية {يا أيها الذين آمنوا شهادة بينكم إذا حضر أحدكم الموت حين الوصية اثنان ذوا عدل منكم} قال: هذا في الوصية عند الموت يوصي ويشهد رجلين من المسلمين على ما له وماعليه، قال: هذا في الحضر {أو آخران من غيركم} في السفر {إن أنتم ضربتم في الأرض فأصابتكم مصيبة الموت} هذا الرجل يدركه الموت في سفره وليس بحضرته أحد من المسلمين، فيدعو رجلين من اليهود والنصارى والمجوس، فيوصي إليهما ويدفع إليهما ميراثه فيقبلان به، فإن رضي أهل الميت الوصية وعرفوا ما لصاحبهم تركوهما، وإن ارتابوا رفعوهما إلى السلطان، فذلك قوله تعالى: {تحبسونهما من بعد الصلاة فيقسمان باللّه إن ارتبتم}، قال ابن عباس رضي اللّه عنه: كأني أنظر إلى العلجين حين انتهي بهما إلى أبي موسى الأشعري في داره، ففتح الصحيفة، فأنكر أهل الميت وخوفوهما، فأراد أبو موسى أن يستحفلهما بعد العصر، فقلت: إنهما لا يباليان صلاة العصر ولكن استحلفهما بعد صلاتهما في دينهما فيحلفان باللّه لا نشتري به ثمناً قليلاً ولو كان ذا قربى ولا نكتم شهادة اللّه إنا إذاً لمن الآثمين: أن صاحبهم لهذا أوصى، وأن هذه لتركته، فيقول لهما الإمام قبل أن يحلفا: إنكما إن كتمتما أو خنتما فضحتكما في قومكما ولم نجز لكما شهادة وعاقبتكما، فإذا قال لهما ذلك فإن {ذلك أدنى أن يأتوا بالشهادة على وجهها} رواه ابن جرير، وقال ابن عباس في تفسير هذه الآية فإن ارتيب في شهادتهما استحلفا - بعد العصر - بالله ما اشترينا بشهادتنا ثمناً قليلاً، فإن اطلع الأولياء على أن الكافرين كذبا في شهادتهما قام رجلان من الأولياء فحلفا باللّه أن شهادة الكافرين باطلة، وإنا لم نعتد، فذلك قوله تعالى: {فإن عثر على أنهما استحقا إثما} يقول: إن اطلع على أن الكافرين كذبا {فآخران يقومان مقامهما} يقول من الأولياء، فحلفا بالله أن شهادة الكافرين باطلة، وإنا لم نعتد، فترد شهادة الكافرين: وتجوز شهادة الأولياء ""ذكره ابن جرير رحمه اللّه""وهكذا قرر هذا الحكم على مقتضى هذه الآية غير واحد من أئمة التابعين والسلف رضي الله عنهم، وهو مذهب الإمام أحمد رحمه الله. وقوله تعالى: { ذلك أدنى أن يأتوا بالشهادة على وجهها} أي شرعية هذه الحكم على هذا الوجه المرضي من تحليف الشاهدين الذميين إن استريب بهما أقرب إلى إقامتهما الشهادة على الوجه المرضي. وقوله: {أو يخافوا أن ترد أيمان بعد أيمانهم} أي يكون الحامل لهم على الإتيان بها على وجهها هو تعظيم الحلف بالله مراعاة جانبه وإجلاله، والخوف من الفضيحة بين الناس، إن ردت اليمين على الورثة، فيحلفون ويستحقون ما يدعون، ولهذا قال: {أو يخافوا أن ترد أيمان بعد أيمانهم} ثم قال: {واتقوا اللّه} أي في جميع أموركم، {واسمعوا} أي وأطيعوا، {واللّه لا يهدي القوم الفاسقين} أي الخارجين عن طاعته ومتابعة شريعته.

Testimony of Two Just Witnesses for the Final Will and Testament

This honorable Ayah contains a glorious ruling from Allah. Allah's statement,

يِـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ شَهَـدَةُ بَيْنِكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ حِينَ الْوَصِيَّةِ اثْنَانِ

(O you who believe! When death approaches any of you, and you make a bequest, then take the testimony of two...) meaning that there should be two witnesses in such cases,

ذَوَا عَدْلٍ

(just men...) thus, describing them as just,

مِّنكُمْ

(of your own folk) Muslims.

أَوْ ءَاخَرَانِ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ

(or two others from outside) non-Muslims, meaning the People of the Book, according to Ibn `Abbas as Ibn Abi Hatim recorded. Allah said next,

إِنْ أَنتُمْ ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ

(if you are traveling through the land) on a journey,

فَأَصَابَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةُ الْمَوْتِ

(and the calamity of death befalls you.) These are two conditions that permit using non-Muslims from among the Dhimmis for witnesses when there are no Muslims present: When one is traveling and needs to write a will, as Sharih Al-Qadi said. Ibn Jarir recorded that Sharih said, "The witness of the Jews and Christians is not allowed except while traveling, and even then only to witness the dictation of the will." Allah's statement,

تَحْبِسُونَهُمَا مِن بَعْدِ الصَّلوةِ

(Detain them both after the Salah (the prayer),) refers to the `Asr prayer, according to Al-`Awfi who reported it from Ibn `Abbas. This is the same explanation reported from Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Qatadah, `Ikrimah and Muhammad bin Sirin. As for Az-Zuhri, he said that they are detained after Muslim prayer (i.e., in congregation). Therefore, these two witnesses will be detained after a congregational prayer,

فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِاللَّهِ إِنِ ارْتَبْتُمْ

(let them both swear by Allah if you are in doubt.) meaning, if you are in doubt that they might have committed treachery or theft, then they should swear by Allah,

لاَ نَشْتَرِى بِهِ

(We wish not in this) in our vows, according to Muqatil bin Hayyan,

ثَمَناً

(for any worldly gain) of this soon to end life,

وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى

(even though he be our near relative.) meaning, if the beneficiary be our near relative, we will still not compromise on the truth.

وَلاَ نَكْتُمُ شَهَـدَةَ اللَّهِ

(We shall not hide the testimony of Allah,) thus stating that the testimony is Allah's, as a way of respecting it and valuing its significance,

إِنَّآ إِذَاً لَّمِنَ الاٌّثِمِينَ

(for then indeed we should be of the sinful.) if we distort the testimony, change, alter or hide it entirely. Allah said next,

فَإِنْ عُثِرَ عَلَى أَنَّهُمَا اسْتَحَقَّآ إِثْماً

(If it then becomes known that these two had been guilty of sin...) if the two witnesses were found to have cheated or stolen from the money that the will is being written about,

يِقُومَانُ مَقَامَهُمَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ اسْتَحَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الاٌّوْلَيَانِ

(let two others stand forth in their places, nearest in kin from among those who claim a lawful right.) This Ayah indicates that if the two witnesses were found to have committed treachery, then two of the nearest rightful inheritors should stand for witness in their place,

فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِاللَّهِ لَشَهَـدَتُنَا أَحَقُّ مِن شَهَـدَتِهِمَا

(Let them swear by Allah (saying): "We affirm that our testimony is truer than that of both of them...") Meaning, our testimony that they have cheated is more truthful than the testimony that they have offered,

وَمَا اعْتَدَيْنَآ

(and that we have not trespassed (the truth),) when we accused them of treachery,

إِنَّا إِذاً لَّمِنَ الظَّـلِمِينَ

(for then indeed we should be of the wrongdoers.) if we had lied about them. This is the oath of the heirs, and preference is to be given to their saying. Just as in the case with the oath of relative of a murdered person if he attempts to tarnish the case of the murdered person. So his family takes an oath in defense of his honor. This is discussed in the studies of the oaths in the books of Ahkam. Allah's statement,

ذلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يَأْتُواْ بِالشَّهَـدَةِ عَلَى وَجْهِهَآ

(That should make it closer (to the fact) that their testimony would be in its true nature and shape (and thus accepted),) means, the ruling requiring the two Dhimmi witnesses to swear, if there is a doubt that they were not truthful, might compel them to admit to the testimony in its true form. Allah's statement,

أَوْ يَخَـفُواْ أَن تُرَدَّ أَيْمَـنٌ بَعْدَ أَيْمَـنِهِمْ

(or else they would fear that (other) oaths would be admitted after their oaths.) means, requiring them to swear by Allah might encourage them to admit to the true testimony because they respect swearing by Allah and they glorify and revere Him. They also fear exposure if the heirs of the deceased are required to swear instead of them. In this case, the heirs would swear and earn the rightful inheritance that the two witnesses failed to declare. This is why Allah said,

أَوْ يَخَـفُواْ أَن تُرَدَّ أَيْمَـنٌ بَعْدَ أَيْمَـنِهِمْ

(or else they would fear that (other) oaths would be admitted after their oaths.), then,

وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ

(And have Taqwa of Allah) in all of your affairs,

وَاسْمَعُواْ

(and listen.) and obey,

وَاللَّهُ لاَ يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْفَـسِقِينَ

(And Allah guides not the rebellious people.) who do not obey Him or follow His Law.

يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ اللَّهُ الرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَآ أُجِبْتُمْ قَالُواْ لاَ عِلْمَ لَنَآ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـمُ الْغُيُوبِ

But if it be discovered if it be ascertained after they have sworn their oaths that both of them have merited the suspicion of sin that is that they have done something to incur it in the way of a breach of faith or perjury in the testimony; for example if what they are accused of is found with them and then they claim that they had bought it from the deceased or that he had bequeathed it to them then two others shall take their place so that the oaths are to be taken from them being the nearest al-awlayān is a substitution for ākharān ‘two others’; a variant reading has al-awwalīn plural of awwal as an adjectival qualification of or a substitution for alladhīna ‘of those’ in kinship to the deceased of those most concerned with the bequest namely the inheritors and they shall swear by God to the breach of faith of the two witnesses and they shall both say ‘Verily our testimony our oath is truer is more faithful than their testimony their oath and we have not transgressed we have not overstepped the bounds of truth in our oaths for then we would assuredly be among the evildoers’ meaning let the one about to die call two men as witnesses to his bequest or let him instruct in his bequest that the two be from among his co-religionists or from among others if he cannot find any from among the former because he is travelling or for some similar reason. If the inheritors have doubts about the two men and claim a breach of faith on the part of the two for having taken something or given it to some other person — alleging that the deceased bequeathed it to him — then let the two men swear in full in the way mentioned above. If then some indication surfaces that the two men have been lying and these two then claim some motivation for this action of theirs the nearest of the inheritors in kinship to the deceased shall swear to the perjury of the two men and to the truth of what they the inheritors suspected. This stipulation holds for the two trustees but is abrogated in the case of the two witnesses. Likewise the testimony of non co-religionists is abrogated.

Sequence of Verses

Prior to this, there were injunctions relevant to religious considerations. Now some injunctions relevant to worldly considerations have been mentioned. The hint given is that the way Allah Ta` ala, in His mercy, helps His servants with better life in the Hereafter, He also takes care of better sustenance for them in the present world. (Bayan al-Qur'an)

The Background of Revelation

The event in the background of the revelation of the cited verses is that Budayl, a Muslim accompanied by Tamim and ` Adiyy, who were Christians at that time, travelled to Syria on a business visit. After reaching Syria, Budayl became sick. He made out a list of his things in writing and put it in his baggage. He did not inform his companions of the trip about it. When his sickness became serious, he called his Christian trip companions and made a will before them that they should deliver everything to his heirs. When they returned, they delivered everything to them. But, they took out a silver bowl which was polished with gold, or had gold inlay work on it, from the belongings. When the heirs found the list of things in the baggage left for them by the deceased, they asked the caretakers of the will if the deceased had sold something from the property, or was he very sick which may have compelled him to make unusual expenses. They answered their inquiry in the negative. Finally, the case came up for hearing before the Holy Prophet ﷺ . Since the heirs had no witnesses, the two Christians were put under oath. They declared that they had neither committed any breach of trust in what belonged to the deceased, nor had they hidden any of his things. In the end, based on the oath, the verdict was given in their favour. After the passage of some time, it was found that the two of them had sold that bowl to a goldsmith in Makkah. When asked, they said that they had bought it from the de-ceased. Since they had no witnesses at the time of purchase, they pleaded, they did not mention it earlier lest they be falsified.

The heirs of the deceased appealed in the court of the Holy Prophet ﷺ Now, contrary to the earlier situation, the executers of the will were claiming to have purchased the missing item while the heirs were denying it. In view of the absence of evidence, two persons closest of the deceased gave a sworn statement that the bowl was owned by the deceased and that the two Christians were liars in their oath. So, the amount of money for which they had sold it (1, 000 Dirhams) was made to be handed over to the heirs.

Commentary

'These verses are meant to give general instructions to the Muslims with regard to making will before death. The advice given is that the will should be evidenced by witnesses, so that they may prove the will in case of a dispute after the death of the testator. It has also been advised that two pious Muslims are chosen for witnessing the will. However, if the Muslim witnesses are not available, non-Muslim witnesses may also serve the purpose. The words 'two witnesses from you" signify the preference of Muslim witnesses, but the following words "or of two others not from you" point out to the permissibility of non-Muslim witnesses.

Then, the words "if you have some doubt" refers to a situation where the legal heirs of the deceased have a claim against the executors of the will, as in the case of Budayl the heirs claimed that a bowl of silver was delivered by the deceased to the executors. Since, in this case the heirs are the plaintiffs, they should produce witnesses to prove their claim, but on their failure to do so, the defendants, i.e. the trustees are required to declare on oath that they did not commit any breach of trust. For that purpose, the Holy Qur'an advises the judge by saying, you shall detain them after the prayer, and they shall swear.

Although it is not legally compulsory to take this oath in the mosque after a prayer, yet the Holy Qur'an has advised to take oath after a prayer, so that the sanctity of time and place may further persuade the people to give a truthful statement.

In the next verse the Holy Qur'an says, "Then, if it is discovered that the two had rendered themselves liable to a sin..." It means that they had given a false evidence, as in the case of Budayl they themselves admitted that the bowl was purchased by them which implied that the property of Budayl contained a bowl and their earlier testimony was false. At this stage they claimed that they had purchased the bowl from Budayl. They should have substantiated this claim by witnesses, but they failed to do so, therefore, the oath was given to the legal heirs of Budayl that no such sale took place to the best of their knowledge. It is this oath of the heirs which has been mentioned in the verse by saying, "then, in their place shall stand two others closest of those whose right has been taken away and they shall swear by Allah..."

Some Rulings

1. The person with whom the deceased leaves his or her property in trust with the request that it be given to someone is called Wasiyy (authorized guardian, executor, trustee, caretaker; plural: Awsiya' ). A Wasiyy can be one individual, or more.

2. That a Wasiyy should be Muslim and just, is better but not necessary, no matter whether the will is being made in journey or at home.

3. In a dispute, the complainant is called the Mudda'i (plaintiff) while the other party is Mudda` a ` alayh (respondent).

4. Witnesses from the Plaintiff are taken first. If he presents them as recognized under the legal norms set by the Shari’ ah of Islam, the case is decided in his favour. If he cannot do that, the Respondent is put on oath and the case is decided in his favour. However, if he denies it, the Plaintiff wins the case.

5. Taking oath at a particular time or place in order to make it more emphatic, as done in the cited verse, depends on the opinion of the judge - it is not required compulsorily. Its compulsory nature is not proved from this verse too, while the converse is proved from other verses and Hadith reports.

The Witness of a Kafir is Acceptable in the case of another Kafir

In the opening words of the verse (106): يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا شَهَادَةُ بَيْنِكُمْ translated as : ` when death draws near one of you, that is, at the time of making a will, the evidence (recognized) between you shall be of two just witnesses from among you, or of two others not from you,' Muslims have been commanded that at the time death draws near one of them, they should appoint two good and just men from among them as their Wasiyy (executor of the will), and if they do not have such people from their own, then, they can have two others (that is, from disbelievers).

It is from here that Imam Abu Hanifah has deduced the ruling that the witness given by disbelievers for each other is permissible. Since the witness of the disbelievers has been declared permissible in the case of Muslims in this verse, as obvious from: أَوْ آخَرَ‌انِ مِنْ غَيْرِ‌كُمْ (or of two others not from you), so the witness of disbelievers for each other is permissible as more suited. But, later on, the witness of the disbelievers for Muslims was abrogated under the authority of the verse: وَاسْتَشْهِدُوا شَهِيدَيْنِ مِن رِّ‌جَالِكُمْ (And have two witnesses from among your men - 2:282). But, the evidence of disbelievers for each other remains valid as it was. (Qurtubi Al-Ahkam Al-Qur'an by Jassas)

The support for the position of Imam Abu Hanifah (رح) also comes from what a Hadith says about a Jew who had committed Zina (adultery). His people smeared his face with black soot and produced him before the Holy Prophet ﷺ . Looking at his condition, he asked for the reason. They told him that the man had committed adultery (Zina). After hearing the testimony of the witnesses, he gave orders that he be stoned to death (Rajm). (Jassas)

Two Words, Two Rules

1. The word, تَحْبِسُونَهُمَا (You shall detain them) in the context of this verse (106) tells us that a person who (genuinely) owes something to someone (having the right of return), the later can have him detained for the retrieval of his right, if and when needed. (Qurtubi)

The word, "Salah" in: مِن بَعْدِ الصَّلَاةِ (after the prayer) means the Salah or prayer of عَصر ` Asr. That this time has been chosen is because the people of the Book held it in esteem. Telling a lie at this time was particularly prohibited among them. This tells us that the placing of the restriction of special time or place for taking a solemn and sacred oath (Taghliz) is permissible. (Qurtubi)