Punishment of false testimony

2. It was narrated to me by Muhammad b. al-Hassan who said it was narrated to me by Muhammad b. al-Hassan al-Saffar from Ahmad b. Muhammad from Ali b. al-Hakam from Aban al-Ahmar from a man from Salih b. Maytham from Abi Abdillah عليه السلام who said: “If a Muslim testifies falsely against the property of another Muslim and deprives him of it, Allah will write the punishment of Hell for his hereafter.”

3. Imam Muhammad Baqir عليه السلام narrates that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said, “One who testifies falsely and as a result of which a Muslim’s blood is shed or his wealth is usurped, the testifier will be brought on the Day of Judgment with his face having blackness spread everywhere and having scratches on it. People will know him with his name and lineage. One who testifies truthfully and saves the right of another Muslim, his face will be brightened on the Day of Judgment with its light spreading everywhere on the Day of Judgment. He will also be known to the people with name and lineage. Did you not hear the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime: and give upright testimony for Allah?”

4. It was narrated to me by Muhammad b. Musa b. al-Mutawakil who said it was narrated to me by Abdillah b. Ja’far al-Himyari from Muhammad b. al-Hussain b. Abi al-Khattab from al-Hassan b. Mahbub from Ayoob’ from Sama’a b. Mihran from Abi Abdillah عليه السلام who said: “The punishment of false testimony is lashing and its number will be as per the will of Imam. In addition to this the person should be made to go round the city so that people recognize him and that the person does not commit this sin once again.” Imam عليه السلام was asked whether his testimony can be accepted if he repents and decides not to commit the sin once again. Imam عليه السلام replied, “If he repents and Allah accepts his repentance, the person’s testimony is acceptable.”

5. My father رحمه الله said: it was narrated to me by Sa’d b. Abdillah from Ahmad b. Abi Abdillah from his father from Safwan from al-’Ala from Muhammad b. Muslim from Abi Abdillah عليه السلام who said: Imam Ja’far Sadiq عليه السلام was asked how a false testifier should repent. He replied, “The person should recompense the loss of wealth because of his false testimony. If the victim has lost one third of his wealth, it should be repaid. If he has lost half of his wealth, the same should be repaid and if the loss is due to testimony of two persons, they both should repay it together.”