What is the ruling if only one of two witnesses retracts their testimony before the judgment is issued?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Judicial Rulings

Book 64 · Issue 1 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If only one of two witnesses retracts before the judgment, the judge shall not rule based on their testimony. Similarly, the prescribed penalty shall not be executed if the retraction occurs before its execution, because the condition for the testimony is broken by the single retraction, just as it would be by both retracting. This is a clear ruling.