Must the determination of lineage by resemblance be corroborated by multiple *Qā'ifūn*?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Foundlings
Primary text
According to the apparent meaning of Ahmad's view, the testimony of a single *Qā'if* is insufficient; the agreement of two is required, treating them as two witnesses whose consensus establishes lineage, similar to legal testimony. If two *Qā'ifūn* testify for one person and one testifies for another, the majority view is stronger as it constitutes the testimony of two witnesses. If two *Qā'ifūn* agree and two others disagree, their testimonies nullify each other. If two *Qā'ifūn* testify and three or more testify to the contrary, the entire testimony is nullified.
Supporting text
Al-Qadi holds that the testimony of a single *Qā'if* is acceptable because their declaration functions as a ruling (*ḥukm*), and a ruling can be based on one person's declaration. He interpreted Ahmad’s statement as applying only when the testimonies of *Qā'ifūn* conflict.