حجية شهادة من لا دين له في الإمارات: دراسة في الشريعة والقانون
THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE TESTIMONY OF A PERSON WHO HAS NO RELIGION IN THE U.A.E: A STUDY IN SHARIAH AND LAW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33102/mjsl.vol13no2.848Keywords:
Authenticity, testimony, one who has no religion, proof, Federal Evidence Law, al-ḥujjiyyah, al-shahādah, man lā dīna lah, al-ithbāt, Qānūn al-Ithbāt al-IttiḥādīAbstract
Testimony is considered one of the most important means of proof, as it preserves rights and demonstrates the virtue of telling the truth. Testimony must be direct, such that the witness gives his testimony according to what he saw with his own eyes or heard with own his ears, regardless of his religion. But the matter may take a different turn, as the witness may not adhere to any religion at all. This study examines the validity of the testimony of a person who does not profess any religion as evidence per the U.A.E Federal Evidence Law No. 35 of 2022. It is divided into three sections that deal with the nature of testimony, the conditions for the validity of testimony, and the authenticity of the testimony of a person who has no religion. In this study, we employed the descriptive approach, the analytical approach, and the inductive approach. This study is of great importance in the Islamic and Arab society in general and the Emirati society in particular, given the diversity of the communities that live there and the diversity of their religions. This study contributes to illuminating the way for the judge to value the testimony of someone who has no religion and give it the weight it deserves. This study also holds global significance, as it assists judges in reaching fair judgments in legal disputes by offering an alternative approach: allowing testimony from a witness who has no religion without requiring him to take an oath, provided the witness presents an official document from his country's consulate confirming that he has sworn an oath according to the procedures of his own country's law regarding testimony in such matters. This document serves as a specific guarantee to enhance the witness's credibility, and it leaves the judge with the discretion to determine whether to accept the testimony and what weight to give it, based on his own assessment and within his discretionary authority in this concern. It has concluded that it is not possible to trust the testimony of someone who does not adhere to any heavenly religion, because the oath that he swears cannot be trusted to help him tell the truth, given that there is no God - in his view - to swear by, fear his punishment, and inspire him to speak the truth, and thus the absence of a religious motive or sacred matter that motivates him to deviate from his testimony or to lie.
ملخص البحث
تُعدّ شَهادة الشهود من بين أهم وسائل الإثبات حيث تُحفظ بها الحقوق وتَظهر من خلالها فضيلة قول الحقيقة، ذلك أنَّ الشهودَ هم عيون العدالة في ساحات القضاء. والأصلُ في هذه الشَّهادةِ أن تكون مباشرةً بحيث يدلي الشاهدُ بشهادته وفق ما رآه بعينه أو سمعه بأذنه وبصرف النَّظر عن ديانته. لكن الأمر قد يأخذ منحى آخر إذْ قد لا يكون الشاهدُ معتنقاً أيّ دين على الإطلاق، فيثور التساؤل هنا عن مدى جواز قبول شهادته واعتمادها كدليل إثبات. ومن هنا، فإنَّ هذه الدراسة تهدفُ إلى مناقشةِ حجية شَهادة مَنْ لا دين له في الإثبات وفقاً لقانون الإثبات الاتحادي رقم 35 لسنة 2022 في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة، حيث تم تقسيمها إلى ثلاثة أقسام تتناول ماهيّة الشَّهادة وشروط صحة الشَّهادة وحجية شَهادة مَنْ لا دين له أمام القضاء. وقد اتبعنا في هذه الدراسة المنهج الوصفي والمنهج التحليلي والمنهج الاستقرائي. وهذه الدراسة لها أهمية كبيرة في المجتمع الإسلامي والعربي بشكلٍ عام، والمجتمع الإماراتي بشكلٍ خاص؛ نظراً لتنوّع الجالياتِ التي تعيش فيه وتنوّع دياناتها، حيث تسهم هذه الدراسة في إنارة الطريق أمام القاضي ليقدّر شَهادة مَنْ لا دين له ويعطيها وزنها في الإثبات. كما تكتسب هذه الدراسة أهميةً على الصعيد العالمي، إذْ تعين القاضي على الوصولِ إلى حكمٍ عادلٍ في النزاع من خلال تقديمِ بديلٍ آخر يتمثل في التوصية بجواز سماع شَهادة مَنْ لا دين له دون تحليفهِ اليمين، شريطة أن يقدّم الشاهد وثيقةً رسميةً صادرةً من قنصليةِ بلده تفيد بأنه قد حلفَ اليمين وفق الأوضاع المقررة في قانونِ بلده بشأن الشَّهادةِ على الواقعةِ محل النزاع. وتشكل هذه الوثيقة ضمانةً خاصةً لتعزيزِ مصداقية الشاهد، وتترك للقاضي سلطةَ تقدير قبول الشَّهادة ووزنها وفق ما يطمئن إليهِ وجدانه، وفي إطارِ ما يتمتع به من سلطةٍ تقديريةٍ في هذا الشأن. وقد خلصت الدراسة إلى نتيجة مفادها أنه لا يمكن الاطمئنان إلى شَهادة مَنْ لا يعتنق أيّ دينٍ سماوي كونه لا يمكن الثقة بيمينهِ التي يحلفها لكي تكونَ معيناً له على قول الحقيقة؛ وذلك نظراً لعدم وجودِ إلهٍ - بنظره - يحلف به ويخشى عقابه، ويكون ملهماً له لقول الحقيقة، وبالتالي انتفاء وجود وازعٍ ديني أو أمر ٍمقدّس يحفزه على الانحراف بشَهادته أو الكذب.
Downloads
References
Abdullatteef, S. M. A. (2006). Belief definitions. Dar Al-Watan.
Abu Dawood, Sulaiman bin Al-Asháth. (1973). Sunan Abi Dawood. Al-Maktabah Al-Assreyyeh.
Abu Shahmah, M. A. (2014). Ancient Libyan religious beliefs. Misurata University College of Arts Journal, 1(1), 334–379.
Abu Zahrah, M. (2007). The Islamic faith. Dar Al-Fikr Al-Arabi.
Al-Abboudi, A. (2020). Explanation of the rules of civil evidence. Dar Al-Thaqafah for Publication & Distribution.
Al-Anbari, A. (2021). Non-Muslims competence in giving testimony: A study between Islamic jurisprudence and the Saudi civil procedural law. Journal of the Faculty of Sharia and Law, 23(4), 2904-2948.
Al-Aqla, G. (2022). Judicial proof through the testimony of non-Muslims in Islamic jurisprudence. Al-Azhar University College of Shari’a and Law Journal, 4(37), 2–93.
Al-Asqalani, A. b. H. (2014). Bulūgh al-Marām min Adillat al-Aḥkām. Dar Al-Qabas.
Al-Bahouti. (1993). Sharh Montahá Al-Iradat. Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmeyyeh.
Al-Bakri, M. (2021). The law of evidence. Dar Al-Muhmoud for Printing.
Al-Bayhaqi, A. B. A. b. A. H. (1992). Al-Sunan al-Kubrā: Kitāb al-Shahādāt. Dar Al-Ma’refah.
Al-Bottoun, B. N. (2010). Testimony in Shari’a: A comparative study with the positive law. Dar Al-Thaqafah for Publication & Distribution.
Al-Bukhari. (2016). Sahih Al-Bukhari. Karachi: Al-Bushra Press.
Al-Ghernati, M. Y. (1994). Al-Tāj wa al-Iklīl li Mukhtaṣar Khalīl. Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmeyyeh.
Al-Hakim. (1991). Al-Mustadrak alá Al-Sahihain. Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmeyyeh.
Al-Haytami. (1988). Tuhfat al-Muḥtāj bi Sharḥ al-Minhāj. Al-Maktabah Al-Kubra.
Al-Jazeeri, A. R. (2003). Jurisprudence according to the four schools of thought. Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmeyyeh.
Al-Jubouri, E. (2018). Religious freedom in Islamic Shari’a and legal systems. Dar Al-Nahdhah Al-Arabeyyeh.
Al-Kasani. (1993). Badaé Al-Sanaée fi Tateeb Al-Sharaée. Dar Al-Fikr.
Al-Mawardi. (1994). Al-Ḥāwī al-Kabīr fī Fiqh al-Imām al-Shāfiʿī. Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmeyyeh.
Al-Mozni. (1983). Mokhtassar Al-Mozni. Dar Al-Fikr.
Al-Muhmoud, M. Y. (2009). Indirect testimony in Islamic jurisprudence: A comparative study with the Kuwaiti and Egyptian law of evidence. University of Kuwait Law Journal, 33(4), 43–120.
Al-Qudhah, M. (2019). Evidences in civil and commercial transactions: A comparative study. Dar Al-Thaqafah for Publication & Distribution.
Al-Qurafi, S. A. (1999). Al-Dhakhīrah. Dar Al-Gharb Al-Islami.
Al-Rassa, A. A. M. (1993). Sharḥ Ḥudūd Ibn ʿArafah. Dar Al-Gharb Al-Islami.
Al-Roubi, O. (2014). Principles and procedures of proof in the Emirati legal system. Dar Al-Nahdhah Al-Arabeyyeh.
Al-Royani, A. M. I. (2009). Baḥr al-Madhhab. Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmeyyeh.
Al-Samouk, S. (2002). Encyclopedia of ancient religions and beliefs. Dar Al-Manhaj for Publishing and Distribution.
Al-Sanhuri, A. (2005). Al-Waseet in the explanation of the new civil code: The theory of obligation & evidence (Vol. 2). Dar Al-Nahdha Al-Arabeyyeh.
Al-Sarkhasi, M. A. (2017). Al-Mabsūṭ. Dar al-Turāth.
Al-Sawi. (1952). Balaghat Al-Salik li Aqrab Al-Masalik. Dar Al-Maărif.
Al-Sha’rawi, M. M. (2003). Islam is a doctrine and method. Alexandria: The Qur’an Library.
Al-Shawkani, M. A. (2015) Nayl al-Awṭār. Bait Al-Afkar Al-Dawliyyah.
Al-Suyūṭī, J. (2005). Al-Jāmiʿ al-Kabīr. Al-Azhar al-Sharīf.
Al-Tarmethi. (1995). Sunan Al-Tarmethi: Al-Jămé Al-Kabeer. Dar Al-Gharb Al-Islami.
Al-Zailéi. (1981). Tabyeen Al-Haqaéq: Shark Kinz Al-Daqaéq. The Grand Press.
Al-Zaini, M. (2004). Discussing and questioning witnesses in Islamic law and positive law. Cairo: The New University Press.
Al-Zuhaili, W. (1985). Al-Fiqh al-Islāmī wa Adillatuh. Dar Al-Fikr.
Amarah, S. (2019). The testimony of a non-Muslim against a Muslim: Jurisprudential study. University of Kuwait Shari’a and Islamic Studies Journal, 34(118), 281–311.
Badawi, A. (1993). The history of atheism in Islam. Sana Publications.
Bakr, M. (2017). Women’s testimony from a jurisprudential perspective. Tanta University Journal of Shari’a and Law, 3(32), 998–1083.
Crabtree, S., & Pelham, B. (2009, February 4). “What Alabamians and Iranians have in common: A global perspective on Americans’ religiosity offers a few surprises”. Gallup Research Publications. https://news.gallup.com/poll/114211/alabamians-iranians-common.aspx
Fanack. (2020). “Population in the United Arab Emirates”. https://fanack.com/ar/united-arab-emirates/population-of-uae/
Faraj, T. H. (2005). Rules of evidence in civil and commercial transactions. Al-Halabi Legal Publications.
Fayed, A., & Ramadan, S. (2023). Rules of proof in the UAE law. Dar Al-Afaq.
Harper, L. R. (2020). Multiverse deism: Shifting perspectives of God and the world. Lexington Books.
Ibn al-Munṭī. (2004). Al-ijmāʿ (F. ʿAbd al-Munʿim, Ed.). Dar al-Muslim for Publication and Distribution.
Ibn Al-Qattan. (2004). Al-Iqnă fi Masaél Al-Ijmă. Dar Al-Farouq Al-Hadeethah for Publication and Distribution.
Ibn Farhun, B. I. (2003). Tabsirat al-Ḥukkām fī Uṣūl al-Aqḍiyah wa Manāhij al-Aḥkām. Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyyah.
Ibn Hazm. (1982). Marateb Al-Ijmă fi Al-Ibadat wal Mu’amalt wal Iéteqadat. Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyyah.
Ibn Manzur, J. b. M. (2003). Lisan al-‘Arab. Dar Sader.
Ibn Qayyim, S. M. (1997). Iʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn ʿan Rabb al-ʿĀlamīn. Dar Al-Arqam.
Ibn Qudamah, M. A. (1994). Al-kafi fi fiqh al-Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal. Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyyah.
Ibn Qudamah, M. A. (2017). Al-Sharḥ al-Kabīr. Dar Al-Kotob Al-Arabeyyeh.
Ibn Qudamah, S. A. F. (1929). Al-mughni. Al-Manar Press.
Ibn Taymiyyah, T. A. (2012). Jami’ al-rasa’il (M. Rashad, Ed.). Dar Al-Madani.
Imam, A. A., & Murtadha, A. O. (2022). Admissibility of non-Muslims evidence in cases involving Muslim parties in Nigeria court: A cursory examination of Qur’an chapter 5 verse 106. Jurnal Syariah, 30(3), 272-291.
Jamaludin S. N. (2024). Case commentary: Admissibility of non-Muslim’s witness statement in Syariah court: A comparison between Nyonya Binti Tahir and Kaliammal a/p Sinnasamy. Asian Journal of Law and Policy, 4(1), 88-108.
Khalil, N. (2008). English-Arabic dictionary of the three great religions. Horus International Institution.
Lipka, M. (2015). 7 key changes in the global religious landscape. Pew Research Center Publications.
Martin, E. (2021). Dictionary of law (10th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Maxoni, A. (2023). Rules of evidence in civil and commercial transactions. Beirut: Dar Al-Jeel.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2024). “Facts and figures”. https://www.mofa.gov.ae/ar-AE/Missions/Addis-Ababa/The-UAE/Facts-and-Figures
Muslim. (1991). Sahih Muslim: Kitab al-ayman. Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmeyyeh.
Mustafa, I. (2004). Al-Mu’jam al-waseet. Cairo: Arabic Language Academy.
Nasser, M. (2017). Atheism: Its causes and keys to treatment. Karbala: Al-Daleel Institution.
Nidham. (1991). Indian fatawa in the doctrine of Imam Abu Hanifah. Dar Sader.
Nurjanah, N., Rahmatsyah, R., & Mutakin, A. (2022). Fatwa Lajnah Bahtsul Masail NU concerning istibdal wakaf and their relevance with renewal of Islamic law. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 7(2 November), 509–530. https://doi.org/10.29240/jhi.v7i2.3707
Obaidat, Y. (2022). Explanation of the evidence law. Amman: Dar Al-Thaqafah for Publication & Distribution.
Othman, M. (1994). The judicial system in the Islamic jurisprudence. Cairo: Dar Al-Bayan.
Qasim, M. H. (2005). Rules of evidence in civil and commercial transactions. Beirut: Al-Halabi Legal Publications.
R K., B. (2021). Childhood statelessness: Critiquing international norms and enforcement strategies. Brawijaya Law Journal, 8(1), 113–131. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.blj.2021.008.01.07
Rabee, E. (2011). The authenticity of testimony in criminal proof. Amman: Dar Al-Thaqafah for Publication & Distribution.
Sabeq, A. S. (2013). Fiqh al-sunnah: Al-mu’amalat. Beirut: Dar Al-Kitab Al-Arabi.
Sabeq, A. S. (2019). Islamic beliefs. Cairo: Dar Al-Fateh.
Smairan, M., & Al-Shehhi, A. (2019). Indirect testimony in Islamic jurisprudence and positive law. University of Sharjah Journal of Shari’a and Islamic Studies, 16(2), 651–680.
Tahoun, A. (1998). Freedom of belief in Shari’a. Cairo: Heliopolis Press.
The Muslim Researchers. (2017). The atheism book. The Muslim Researchers’ Publications.
Wan Ismail, W. A. F., Hashim, H., Mohammed Hassan, M. B., Mochammad Sahid, M., Baharuddin, A. S., Mamat, Z., Alias, M. A. A., & Jusof, N. (2025). Autoriti preskriptif al-quran dalam pembuktian Syariah:Tinjauan terhadap pengakuan, keterangan saksi dan sumpah: The prescriptive authority of the holy Qur’anin Syariah evidence: A study on confession, witness testimony, and oath. LexForensica: Forensic Justice And Socio-Legal Research Journal, 2(1), 63-71.
Yahya, A. (1988). Law of evidence. Dar Al-Nahdhah Al-Arabeyyeh.
Zahrah, M. (2015). Rules of proof under the UAE Federal Evidence Act No. 10 of 1992. UAE University Press.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Zaid Muhmoud Agaileh

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.