What is the ruling if two witnesses testify that a female slave has given birth to a child (*istilad*), and then they retract their testimony?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Judicial Rulings

Book 64 · Issue 2 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If two witnesses testify to the *istilad* of a female slave and subsequently retract their testimony, they must compensate the owner for the amount by which the testimony diminished the slave's value.

Supporting text

If the slave gains freedom through the death of her master, the heirs are entitled to recover the remaining value of the slave from the retracting witnesses.