35) JAMI` AT-TIRMIDHI

Chapters On WitnessesBook 35 of Jami` at-Tirmidhi

This section gathers narrations about truthful testimony, acceptable and unacceptable witnesses, false witness, honesty in speech, and the seriousness of giving evidence before Allah.

1) What Has Been Related About Witnesses And Which Of Them Are Best

باب مَا جَاءَ فِي الشُّهَدَاءِ أَيُّهُمْ خَيْرٌ
2295

Hadith 1

Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "Shall l not inform you of the best of witnesses? The one who comes with his testimony before being asked for it."
حَدَّثَنَا الأَنْصَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَزْمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ الشُّهَدَاءِ الَّذِي يَأْتِي بِالشَّهَادَةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْأَلَهَا " .

How to Apply This in Life

Apply this Hadith by speaking truthfully, giving testimony only with honesty, avoiding false witness, refusing bias or malice, and remembering that every word of evidence is accountable before Allah.

Grade :
Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference :
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2295
In-book reference :
Book 35, Hadith 1
English translation :
Vol. 4, Book 9, Hadith 2295

2296

Hadith 2

(Another chain) from Malik in which he said: Ibn Abi 'Amrah."
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، نَحْوَهُ وَقَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ . وَأَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ يَقُولُونَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ وَاخْتَلَفُوا عَلَى مَالِكٍ فِي رِوَايَةِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ فَرَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ وَرَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ وَهُوَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ لأَنَّهُ قَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ غَيْرُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَهُوَ حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ أَيْضًا وَأَبُو عَمْرَةَ مَوْلَى زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ وَلَهُ حَدِيثُ الْغُلُولِ وَأَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ يَقُولُونَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ .

How to Apply This in Life

Apply this Hadith by speaking truthfully, giving testimony only with honesty, avoiding false witness, refusing bias or malice, and remembering that every word of evidence is accountable before Allah.

Grade :
Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference :
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2296
In-book reference :
Book 35, Hadith 2
English translation :
Vol. 4, Book 9, Hadith 2296

2297

Hadith 3

Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani narrated that the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) said: "The best of witnesses is the one who gives his testimony before being asked for it."
حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ آدَمَ ابْنُ بِنْتِ أَزْهَرَ السَّمَّانِ، حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ، حَدَّثَنَا أُبَىُّ بْنُ عَبَّاسِ بْنِ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَزْمٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي خَارِجَةُ بْنُ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي زَيْدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيُّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " خَيْرُ الشُّهَدَاءِ مَنْ أَدَّى شَهَادَتَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْأَلَهَا " . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ .

How to Apply This in Life

Apply this Hadith by speaking truthfully, giving testimony only with honesty, avoiding false witness, refusing bias or malice, and remembering that every word of evidence is accountable before Allah.

Grade :
Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference :
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2297
In-book reference :
Book 35, Hadith 3
English translation :
Vol. 4, Book 9, Hadith 2297


2) What Has Been Related About Whose Testimony Is Not Acceptable

باب مَا جَاءَ فِيمَنْ لاَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُ
2298

Hadith 4

Aishah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: The testimony of a treacherous man is not acceptable nor a treacherous woman nor a man lashed for the Hadd nor a woman lashed nor one possessing malice of enmity nor a rehearsed witness nor the Qani of (one contracted by)the family on their behalf nor the one associating himself to other than his Wala or to other than his relatives."
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْفَزَارِيُّ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ الدِّمَشْقِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ خَائِنٍ وَلاَ خَائِنَةٍ وَلاَ مَجْلُودٍ حَدًّا وَلاَ مَجْلُودَةٍ وَلاَ ذِي غِمْرٍ لأَخِيهِ وَلاَ مُجَرَّبِ شَهَادَةٍ وَلاَ الْقَانِعِ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ لَهُمْ وَلاَ ظَنِينٍ فِي وَلاَءٍ وَلاَ قَرَابَةٍ " . قَالَ الْفَزَارِيُّ الْقَانِعُ التَّابِعُ . هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ يَزِيدَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ الدِّمَشْقِيِّ . وَيَزِيدُ يُضَعَّفُ فِي الْحَدِيثِ وَلاَ يُعْرَفُ هَذَا الْحَدِيِثُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ الزُّهْرِيِّ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِهِ . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو . قَالَ وَلاَ نَعْرِفُ مَعْنَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَلاَ يَصِحُّ عِنْدِي مِنْ قِبَلِ إِسْنَادِهِ . وَالْعَمَلُ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ فِي هَذَا أَنَّ شَهَادَةَ الْقَرِيبِ جَائِزَةٌ لِقَرَابَتِهِ . وَاخْتَلَفَ أَهْلُ الْعِلْمِ فِي شَهَادَةِ الْوَالِدِ لِلْوَلَدِ وَالْوَلَدِ لِوَالِدِهِ وَلَمْ يُجِزْ أَكْثَرُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ شَهَادَةَ الْوَالِدِ لِلْوَلَدِ وَلاَ الْوَلَدِ لِلْوَالِدِ . وَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ إِذَا كَانَ عَدْلاً فَشَهَادَةُ الْوَالِدِ لِلْوَلَدِ جَائِزَةٌ وَكَذَلِكَ شَهَادَةُ الْوَلَدِ لِلْوَالِدِ . وَلَمْ يَخْتَلِفُوا فِي شَهَادَةِ الأَخِ لأَخِيهِ أَنَّهَا جَائِزَةٌ وَكَذَلِكَ شَهَادَةُ كُلِّ قَرِيبٍ لِقَرِيبِهِ . وَقَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ لاَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةٌ لِرَجُلٍ عَلَى الآخَرِ وَإِنْ كَانَ عَدْلاً إِذَا كَانَتْ بَيْنَهُمَا عَدَاوَةٌ . وَذَهَبَ إِلَى حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُرْسَلاً " لاَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ صَاحِبِ إِحْنَةٍ " . يَعْنِي صَاحِبَ عَدَاوَةٍ وَكَذَلِكَ مَعْنَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ حَيْثُ قَالَ " لاَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ صَاحِبِ غِمْرٍ لأَخِيهِ " يَعْنِي صَاحِبَ عَدَاوَةٍ .

How to Apply This in Life

Apply this Hadith by speaking truthfully, giving testimony only with honesty, avoiding false witness, refusing bias or malice, and remembering that every word of evidence is accountable before Allah.

Grade :
Da'if (Darussalam)
Reference :
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2298
In-book reference :
Book 35, Hadith 4
English translation :
Vol. 4, Book 9, Hadith 2298


3) What Has Been Related About Bearing False Witness

باب مَا جَاءَ فِي شَهَادَةِ الزُّورِ
2299

Hadith 5

Ayman bin Khuraim narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w) stood to give a Khutbah and said: "O you people False witness is tantamount to Shirk with Allah" Then the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)recited: So shun the Rijs of the idols, and shun false speech.
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ الأَسَدِيِّ، عَنْ فَاتِكِ بْنِ فَضَالَةَ، عَنْ أَيْمَنَ بْنِ خُرَيْمٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَامَ خَطِيبًا فَقَالَ " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُدِلَتْ شَهَادَةُ الزُّورِ إِشْرَاكًا بِاللَّهِ " . ثُمَّ قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : (وَاجْتَنِبُوا الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الأَوْثَانِ وَاجْتَنِبُوا قَوْلَ الزُّورِ ) . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ إِنَّمَا نَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَاخْتَلَفُوا فِي رِوَايَةِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ . وَلاَ نَعْرِفُ لأَيْمَنَ بْنِ خُرَيْمٍ سَمَاعًا مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .

How to Apply This in Life

Apply this Hadith by speaking truthfully, giving testimony only with honesty, avoiding false witness, refusing bias or malice, and remembering that every word of evidence is accountable before Allah.

Grade :
Da'if (Darussalam)
Reference :
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2299
In-book reference :
Book 35, Hadith 5
English translation :
Vol. 4, Book 9, Hadith 2299

2300

Hadith 6

Khuraim bin Fatik Al-Asadi narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) performed the Subh (Fajr)prayer. Then when he turned he got up to stand and said: "O you people! False witness is tantamount to Shirk with Allah."Saying it three times, then he recited this Ayah And shun false speech Until the end of the Ayah.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، وَهُوَ ابْنُ زِيَادٍ الْعُصْفُرِيُّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ الأَسَدِيِّ، عَنْ خُرَيْمِ بْنِ فَاتِكٍ الأَسَدِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلَّى صَلاَةَ الصُّبْحِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَامَ قَائِمًا فَقَالَ " عُدِلَتْ شَهَادَةُ الزُّورِ بِالشِّرْكِ بِاللَّهِ " . ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ تَلاَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ (وَاجْتَنِبُوا قَوْلَ الزُّورِ ) إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا عِنْدِي أَصَحُّ . وَخُرَيْمُ بْنُ فَاتِكٍ لَهُ صُحْبَةٌ وَقَدْ رَوَى عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَحَادِيثَ وَهُوَ مَشْهُورٌ .

How to Apply This in Life

Apply this Hadith by speaking truthfully, giving testimony only with honesty, avoiding false witness, refusing bias or malice, and remembering that every word of evidence is accountable before Allah.

Grade :
Da'if (Darussalam)
Reference :
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2300
In-book reference :
Book 35, Hadith 6
English translation :
Vol. 4, Book 9, Hadith 2300

2301

Hadith 7

'Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakrah narrated from his father that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "Shall I not inform you of the greatest of the major sins?" They said: "Of course O Messenger of Allah(s.a.w)!" He said: "Shirk with Allah disobeying parents, and false testimony." Or: "False speech" He said: "So the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) would not stop saying it until we said ( to ourselves): 'I wish he would be quiet. "
حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ الْمُفَضَّلِ، عَنِ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَكْبَرِ الْكَبَائِرِ " . قَالُوا بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " الإِشْرَاكُ بِاللَّهِ وَعُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَشَهَادَةُ الزُّورِ أَوْ قَوْلُ الزُّورِ " . قَالَ فَمَا زَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُهَا حَتَّى قُلْنَا لَيْتَهُ سَكَتَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو .

How to Apply This in Life

Apply this Hadith by speaking truthfully, giving testimony only with honesty, avoiding false witness, refusing bias or malice, and remembering that every word of evidence is accountable before Allah.

Grade :
Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference :
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2301
In-book reference :
Book 35, Hadith 7
English translation :
Vol. 4, Book 9, Hadith 2301


4) From it (i.e. the previous chapter subject) [Among That Lying Will Spread Until A Man Will Testify While His Testimony Was Not Requested And A Man Will Take An Oath While His Oath Was Not Sought]

باب مِنْهُ
2302

Hadith 8

'Imran bin Husain narrated that the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w)said: "The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them,then those who follow them, then those who follow them."(He(s.a.w)said that) three times. "Then, after them a people will come who increase in fatness, loving fatness, giving testimony before they are asked for it."
حَدَّثَنَا وَاصِلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُدْرِكٍ، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ يِسَافٍ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ يَتَسَمَّنُونَ وَيُحِبُّونَ السِّمَنَ يُعْطُونَ الشَّهَادَةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْأَلُوهَا " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ حَدِيثِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُدْرِكٍ وَأَصْحَابُ الأَعْمَشِ إِنَّمَا رَوَوْا عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ يِسَافٍ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ .

How to Apply This in Life

Apply this Hadith by speaking truthfully, giving testimony only with honesty, avoiding false witness, refusing bias or malice, and remembering that every word of evidence is accountable before Allah.

Grade :
Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference :
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2302
In-book reference :
Book 35, Hadith 8
English translation :
Vol. 4, Book 9, Hadith 2302

2302b

Hadith 9

Another chain on the authority of 'Imran bin Husain narrates a similar narration.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَمَّارٍ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، حَدَّثَنَا هِلاَلُ بْنُ يِسَافٍ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ . وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ فُضَيْلٍ . قَالَ وَمَعْنَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ " يُعْطُونَ الشَّهَادَةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْأَلُوهَا " . إِنَّمَا يَعْنِي شَهَادَةَ الزُّورِ يَقُولُ يَشْهَدُ أَحَدُهُمْ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يُسْتَشْهَدَ وَبَيَانُ هَذَا فِي [الحديث التالي]...

How to Apply This in Life

Apply this Hadith by speaking truthfully, giving testimony only with honesty, avoiding false witness, refusing bias or malice, and remembering that every word of evidence is accountable before Allah.

Grade :
Not listed
Reference :
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2302b
In-book reference :
Book 35, Hadith 9
English translation :
Vol. 1, Book 9, Hadith 2302

2303

Hadith 10

Clarification of this is in the Hadith of 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, from the Prophet(s.a.w) who said: "The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them,then those who follow them. Then lying will spread, until a man testifies while his testimony was not requested, and a man will take an oath while an oath was not sought."
حَدِيثِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَفْشُو الْكَذِبُ حَتَّى يَشْهَدَ الرَّجُلُ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُ وَيَحْلِفُ الرَّجُلُ وَلاَ يُسْتَحْلَفُ " . وَمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خَيْرُ الشُّهَدَاءِ الَّذِي يَأْتِي بِشَهَادَتِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْأَلَهَا " . هُوَ عِنْدَنَا إِذَا أُشْهِدَ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى الشَّىْءِ أَنْ يُؤَدِّيَ شَهَادَتَهُ وَلاَ يَمْتَنِعَ مِنَ الشَّهَادَةِ هَكَذَا وَجْهُ الْحَدِيثِ عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ . كَمُلَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كِتَابُ الشَّهَادَاتِ وَيَلِيهِ كِتَابُ الزُّهْدِ

How to Apply This in Life

Apply this Hadith by speaking truthfully, giving testimony only with honesty, avoiding false witness, refusing bias or malice, and remembering that every word of evidence is accountable before Allah.

Grade :
Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference :
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2303
In-book reference :
Book 35, Hadith 10
English translation :
Vol. 4, Book 9, Hadith 2303