Subject : Imposition through Vision from behind a Screen is Valid

Fatwa Number : 538

Date : 14-03-2010

Classified : Jurisprudence

Fatwa Type : Search Fatawaa

Question :

What is the ruling on the imposition delivered by a concealed witness against a defendant, upon request of a plaintiff ,where the witness can see and hear the defendant while the latter can`t and is unaware of his presence. This is because, before people, the defendant denies the plaintiff`s right, but, in private, he admits it. Therefore, the plaintiff conceals the witness to testify against the defendant, since there is no other way to prove his right?

The Answer :

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

If the witness is concealed in a place where he can neither be seen nor heard by the defendant, then his imposition is definitely valid because its conditions are met and it isn`t a condition that the defendant should know that the witness could see and hear him. It is also not conditioned that the defendant should approve of the witness`s attendance.

Ibn Najim(May Allah be pleased with him) said: "It isn`t conditioned that the defendant should know about the witness. Therefore, if the latter could see his face and understand what he is saying without the former knowing of his presence, then his testimony is acceptable."[Al-Bahar Al-Ra`eq, vol.7/pp.69].

Moreover, Ibn Hajar Al-Haithami (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "It is conditioned that the testimony should be heard and the witness should be seen, even if he was behind a screen" [Tohfat Al-Mohtaj, vol.10/pp.258]. And Allah Knows Best .

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