Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

رُوِيَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَقْطِينٍ عَنْ أَبِي اَلْحَسَنِ اَلْأَوَّلِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "لاَ بَأْسَ بِالشَّهَادَةِ عَلَى إِقْرَارِ اَلْمَرْأَةِ وَ لَيْسَتْ بِمُسْفِرَةٍ إِذَا عُرِفَتْ بِعَيْنِهَا أَوْ يَحْضُرُ مَنْ عَرَفَهَا ".

It is narrated from Ali ibn Yaqtin, from Abu al-Hasan al-Awwal (a.s), who said: "There is no issue with bearing witness to a woman's acknowledgment (confession) without her unveiling her face, as long as she is identified either by her specific features or in the presence of someone who recognizes her."

وَ لَا يَجُوزُ عِنْدَهُمْ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ الشُّهُودُ عَلَى إِقْرَارِهَا دُونَ أَنْ تُسْفِرَ فَيَنْظُرَ إِلَيْهَا.

However, in their view, it is not permissible for witnesses to testify regarding her acknowledgment without her unveiling so that they may see her directly.

وَ كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ اَلْحَسَنِ اَلصَّفَّارُ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ اَلْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي رَجُلٍ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ عَلَى اِمْرَأَةٍ لَيْسَ لَهَا بِمَحْرَمٍ هَلْ يَجُوزُ لَهُ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ وَرَاءِ اَلسِّتْرِ وَ يَسْمَعَ كَلاَمَهَا إِذَا شَهِدَ عَدْلاَنِ أَنَّهَا فُلاَنَةُ بِنْتُ فُلاَنٍ اَلَّتِي تُشْهِدُكَ وَ هَذَا كَلاَمُهَا أَوْ لاَ تَجُوزُ اَلشَّهَادَةُ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى تَبْرُزَ وَ تُثْبِتَهَا بِعَيْنِهَا فَوَقَّعَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "تَتَنَقَّبُ وَ تَظْهَرُ لِلشُّهُودِ إِنْ شَاءَ اَللَّهُ".

It is narrated that Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar (may Allah (swt) be pleased with him) wrote to Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Ali (a.s) regarding a man who wanted to testify about a woman who was not his mahram (unmarriageable relative). He asked: "Is it permissible for him to testify about her from behind a curtain while hearing her speech, provided that two just witnesses testify that she is indeed so-and-so, the daughter of so-and-so, who is calling you to bear witness and this is her voice? Or is it not permissible to testify about her until she uncovers her face and is identified by her appearance?" The Imam (a.s) replied: "She should veil her face partially (wear a niqab) and appear before the witnesses, if Allah (swt) wills."

وَ هَذَا التَّوْقِيعُ عِنْدِي بِخَطِّهِ ع.

This reply (tawqi') was documented in his handwriting (a.s).