How many witnesses are required for establishing or refuting a person's integrity (Jarh wa Ta'deel)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Judiciary
Primary text
The acceptance of testimony regarding a person's integrity (Jarh wa Ta'deel) requires two witnesses. This view is held by Malik, Al-Shafi'i, Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, and Ibn al-Mundhir. The basis for requiring a number is that this establishes a characteristic upon which the judge bases his ruling concerning the person's status; thus, the number is considered, similar to custody matters. It is distinguished from simple narration because narration is treated with leniency and is considered to require the wording of testimony.
Supporting text
It is narrated from Ahmad, and this is the choice of Abu Bakr and the position of Abu Hanifa, that acceptance requires only one witness. The reasoning provided is that it is a report where the specific wording of testimony is not mandatory, thus accepting a single narrator, similar to general narration.