Question:
There is a person who is asked to testify for something and knows the truth and willing to share it as long as they are anonymous, because she is fearful of damaging social ties with the opposing party. It’s not like a matter of life or death, it’s just a divorce case but still she’s a bit fearful of negating everything and saying the truth infront of Allah. Although she has a very clear understanding of the situation and god showed her exactly what she needs to say to save the other party from a wrong judgment. How would you recommend to go about it? Any recommended approach, ayas, resources, references that I can use? Any rewards for her that could spark something to push her further? I know it’s all in gods hand and this is just a mean, but just wanted to ask for any recommendations? Also I just wanted to clarify that testifying anonymously is not an available option in this case. Thank you. Jazak Allah Khair.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Sister in Islam,
We apologize for the belated response.
In principle, if a person’s testification would lead to a party receiving their right, and not testifying would lead to an incorrect judgement, then it will not be permissible to withhold that testimony.[i] This can be understood from the following verse of the Qur’an:
ولا تكتموا الشهادة. ومن يكتمها فانه آثم قلبه (البقرة:283)
Translation:and do not conceal testimony, and whoever conceals it, his heart is surely sinful; (Al-Baqarah: 283)
Furthermore, the Prophet SallahuAlayhiWaSallam has encouraged presenting oneself to testify even before a matter is presented to a judge. Consider the following:
وَعَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ الشُّهَدَاءِ؟ الَّذِي يَأْتِي بشهادتِه قبلَ أنْ يسْأَلهَا (رواه مسلم)
Translation: Zaid b. Khalid reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Shall I not tell you of the best witness? He is the one who produces his deposition before he is asked for it. (Muslim)
The sister should not be intimidated by the potential negative outcomes of giving testimony. In fact, although the party may become upset temporarily, the testimony will save the other party from regret on the day of judgement for being the cause of an incorrect judgement. She should be rest assured that she is doing what is correct in the eyes of Allah.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Hammad Ibn Ismail Jogiat
Mufti Mirza-Zain Baig
Student - Darul Iftaa
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية (26/ 217)
تحمل الشهادة وأداؤها فرض على الكفاية، لقوله تعالى: {ولا يأب الشهداء إذا ما دعوا (4) } . وقوله تعالى: {وأقيموا الشهادة لله (5) } وقوله: {ولا تكتموا الشهادة ومن يكتمها فإنه آثم قلبه (6) } ولأن الشهادة أمانة فلزم أداؤها كسائر الأمانات
البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق ومنحة الخالق وتكملة الطوري (7/ 57)
والرابع سبب وجوبها طلب ذي الحق أو خوف فوت حقه فإن من عنده شهادة لا يعلم بها صاحب الحق وخاف فوت الحق يجب عليه أن يشهد بلا طلب
أحكام القرآن للجصاص (3/ 354)
وقَوْله تَعَالَى : { وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ وَمَنْ يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ آثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ } .
قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ : قَوْله تَعَالَى : { وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ } كَلَامٌ مُكْتَفٍ بِنَفْسِهِ ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مَعْطُوفًا عَلَى مَا تَقَدَّمَ ذِكْرُهُ مِنْ الْأَمْرِ بِالْإِشْهَادِ عِنْدَ التَّبَايُعِ بِقَوْلِهِ : { وَأَشْهِدُوا إذَا تَبَايَعْتُمْ } ، فَهُوَ عُمُومٌ فِي سَائِرِ الشَّهَادَاتِ الَّتِي يَلْزَمُ الشَّاهِدَ إقَامَتُهَا وَأَدَاؤُهَا ، وَهُوَ نَظِيرُ قَوْله تَعَالَى : { وَأَقِيمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ لِلَّهِ } وَقَوْلِهِ : { يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ } فَنَهَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى الشَّاهِدَ بِهَذِهِ الْآيَاتِ عَنْ كِتْمَانِ الشَّهَادَةِ الَّتِي تَرَكَهَا يُؤَدِّي إلَى تَضْيِيعِ الْحُقُوقِ .
قاموس الفقه: زمزم: 4:209
امداد الفتاوى: مكتبة دار العلوم: 3:438
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